لَقَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ 164
Translations
Certainly did Allāh confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error.
Transliteration
Laqad manna Allahu alal-mu'minina idh ba'atha fihim rasulam min anfusihim yatlu alayihim ayatihi wa yuzakkihim wa yu'allimuhum al-kitaba wa al-hikmata wa in kanu min qablu lafi dalalin mubinin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes Allah's great favor (minna) upon the believers by sending them a Messenger from among themselves—the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)—who recites Allah's signs to them, purifies their souls, and teaches them the Scripture and wisdom. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir highlight that this is a comprehensive description of the Prophet's mission: conveying revelation (tilawah), spiritual purification (tazkiyyah), and intellectual guidance (ta'lim). The ayah concludes by contrasting their previous state of manifest misguidance (dalalun mubinin) before the Prophet's advent, underscoring the transformative blessing of his prophethood.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al 'Imran (revealed in Madinah) and contextually follows discussion of the Children of Israel and their breaking of covenants. It comes in the broader theme of Allah's favor upon the believers and the importance of adhering to the Prophet's guidance, serving as a reminder of the profound blessing the ummah receives through prophetic guidance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'I have been sent as a teacher,' emphasizing his role in purification and instruction mentioned in this ayah. Additionally, Al-Tirmidhi records hadiths about the Prophet being 'a mercy to the worlds' (rahmatan lil-alamin), which relates to the comprehensive benefits of his mission described here.
Themes
Key Lesson
Recognizing the Prophet Muhammad's role as a comprehensive guide for spiritual, moral, and intellectual development should inspire gratitude toward Allah and commitment to following his Sunnah. This ayah invites believers to appreciate the blessing of guidance and to transmit these teachings—recitation, purification, and wisdom—to others in their own time.