فَأَرْسَلْنَا فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ 32
Translations
And We sent among them a messenger from themselves, [saying], "Worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?"
Transliteration
Fa-arsalnā fīhim rasūlan minhum an i'budū Allāha mā lakum min ilāhin ghayruhu. Afalā tattaqūn?
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah sent a messenger from among the people themselves to call them to the worship of Allah alone, affirming that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. This ayah emphasizes that Allah's mercy is evident in sending prophets from within communities so they could understand the message in their own language and context, and the rhetorical question 'Will you not fear Allah?' serves as a call to repentance and awareness of Allah's oneness (Tawhīd). Ibn Kathir notes this pattern was consistent throughout history—every nation received a messenger to warn them and guide them to monotheism.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Mu'minun's broader narrative recounting the stories of previous prophets and their peoples' responses. The surah details how various nations received messengers but many rejected them, serving as a warning to the Quraysh during the Meccan period. The context emphasizes the consistency of Allah's methodology throughout human history in sending prophets to deliver the message of Tawhīd.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Every prophet was sent to his people exclusively, but I have been sent to all of mankind' (Sahih Bukhari 334). Also relevant: 'There is no people to whom a prophet has not been sent' (Tafsir Ibn Kathir reference to historical consensus).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's guidance is a manifestation of His infinite mercy, sending messengers in a form understandable to each people, and holds each generation accountable for accepting or rejecting this clear truth. For modern believers, it emphasizes that the message of Tawhīd remains timeless and that conscious awareness of Allah (Taqwa) is our responsibility in response to this clarity.