قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا 2
Translations
[He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward [i.e., Paradise].
Transliteration
Qayyiman liyundhira ba'san shadidan min ladunhu wa yubashshiral mu'minina alladhina ya'maluna as-salihati anna lahum ajran hasanan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Quran as a straight and upright guidance (qayyiman) that serves two purposes: warning of severe punishment from Allah for those who reject it, and giving glad tidings to believers who perform righteous deeds that they will receive an excellent reward. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that the Quran's dual role as both warner and bringer of good news addresses all humanity—threatening the disbelievers while encouraging the faithful—thus serving as a complete and balanced divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This verse is part of Surah Al-Kahf's opening, which establishes the Quran's role and authority immediately after Surah Al-Isra. It was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period when the Prophet (peace be upon him) faced opposition from the Quraysh. The context emphasizes the Quran's purpose as both a warning to disbelievers and an encouragement to believers during a time of persecution.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet said: 'Indeed, this Quran is a rope of Allah—it is a light and a mercy' (Musnad Ahmad), reflecting the Quran's dual role as guidance and mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that revelation from Allah contains both stern warnings against wrongdoing and encouraging promises for the righteous, designed to motivate believers toward good action while deterring them from evil. For modern readers, it emphasizes that Islamic guidance is balanced—neither overly harsh nor permissive—and that our relationship with the Quran should inspire both conscientiousness about accountability and hope in Allah's mercy for sincere believers.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.
قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلَآ أَعْصِى لَكَ أَمْرًا
[Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allāh wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order."
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا
They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?"
وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحْصَىٰهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا۟ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.