تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 108
Translations
These are the verses of Allāh. We recite them to you, [O Muḥammad], in truth; and Allāh wants no injustice to the worlds [i.e., His creatures].
Transliteration
Tilka ayatu Allahi natluhaha alayika bilhaqqi wa ma Allahu yureedu dhulman lilAAalameena
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah is reciting His clear signs and revelations to the Prophet Muhammad with truth and justice, emphasizing that God has no desire to oppress or wrong any of His creations. According to Ibn Kathir, this verse serves as a declaration of Allah's perfect justice and the authenticity of the Quranic message, refuting any claims that the revelation is false or that Allah acts unjustly. Al-Tabari notes this emphasizes Allah's attribute of justice ('Adl) and His complete freedom from oppression toward all beings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan period of Surah Ali 'Imran, within a section discussing the revelations given to the People of the Book and affirming the truth of the Quranic message. It serves as a reassurance to believers and a challenge to those who reject the message, emphasizing that Allah's revelation is delivered with complete truth and justice, not arbitrarily or oppressively.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in a hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily, Allah is Just and loves justice' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the principle of Allah's justice is emphasized in the hadith: 'Injustice (dhulm) will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection' (Sahih Bukhari), highlighting the seriousness with which Allah regards oppression.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's revelations and divine guidance are rooted in perfect justice and truth, never in oppression or deception, which should inspire confidence in following the Islamic path. For modern readers, this serves as a foundation for understanding that Islamic law and divine guidance are inherently just and fair, designed for the welfare of all humanity rather than to burden or wrong them.