إِلَّا مَنِ ٱرْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَسْلُكُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ رَصَدًا 27
Translations
Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before him [i.e., each messenger] and behind him observers
Transliteration
Illa man irtada min rasul fa-innahu yasluku min bayni yadayhi wa min khalfihi rasada
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that Allah reveals His unseen knowledge only to those messengers whom He has chosen and approved. The phrase 'he sends forth guarding angels before him and behind him' indicates that Allah provides divine protection and preservation to His chosen messengers, ensuring the purity and accuracy of the revelation they receive. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this protection extends to safeguarding the message from distortion and ensuring its faithful transmission.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Jinn, which discusses the jinn's acknowledgment of the Quran and the unseen realm. The broader theme addresses how Allah keeps certain knowledge hidden from creation except through His chosen messengers, establishing the exclusivity and authority of prophethood in conveying divine guidance to humanity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those of good character,' (Tirmidhi) - relating to the trustworthiness required of those chosen to receive revelation. Additionally, the hadith about Allah's protection of the Quran: 'Indeed, it is We who have sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian' (Sahih Bukhari, referencing 15:9).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that authentic divine guidance comes exclusively through the chosen messengers whom Allah has protected and preserved. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of turning to reliable sources of Islamic knowledge and the prophetic tradition, as they represent Allah's designated means of accessing truth.