۞ 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
لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.
إِنَّمَا جَزَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن يُقَتَّلُوٓا۟ أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوٓا۟ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ أَوْ يُنفَوْا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْىٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allāh and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,
مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌ ۖ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرْ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded.
لَئِنۢ بَسَطتَ إِلَىَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِى مَآ أَنَا۠ بِبَاسِطٍ يَدِىَ إِلَيْكَ لِأَقْتُلَكَ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
If you should raise your hand toward me to kill me - I shall not raise my hand toward you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allāh, Lord of the worlds.