۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 67
Translations
O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allāh will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha ar-rasulu balligh ma unzila ilayka min rabbika wa-in lam taf'al fama ballahta risalatahu wa-allahu ya'simuka mina an-nas inna allaha la yahdee al-qawma al-kafirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to convey the complete message revealed to him from his Lord, emphasizing that failure to do so would mean he has not truly fulfilled his prophetic mission. The ayah assures the Prophet of divine protection from harm by people, while affirming that Allah does not guide disbelievers. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this verse emphasizes the Prophet's obligation to deliver all divine guidance without omission or fear, establishing the foundational principle that a messenger's duty is complete and comprehensive conveyance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the final period of the Prophet's life, likely during the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wida'), and is understood by many scholars to relate to the Prophet's obligation to communicate all divine revelations. The broader context of Surah Al-Ma'idah (revealed in Madinah) emphasizes religious law, obligations, and the completion of the Islamic message.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Ghadir Khumm (recorded in multiple sources including Tirmidhi and others) is contextually related, as it demonstrates the Prophet's fulfillment of this command to convey important guidance. Additionally, the Prophet's Farewell Sermon (Khutbat al-Wida') exemplifies this ayah's directive to communicate the complete message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that conveying truth fully and without compromise is a sacred obligation, and that those who undertake this responsibility can trust in Allah's protection. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of integrity in religious practice and the courage needed to communicate faith principles despite potential opposition.
Related Ayahs
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allāh is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allāh - Allāh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allāh? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.
وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ
And whoever is an ally of Allāh and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allāh - they will be the predominant.
لَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلًا ۖ كُلَّمَا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰٓ أَنفُسُهُمْ فَرِيقًا كَذَّبُوا۟ وَفَرِيقًا يَقْتُلُونَ
We had already taken the covenant of the Children of Israel and had sent to them messengers. Whenever there came to them a messenger with what their souls did not desire, a party [of messengers] they denied, and another party they killed.