وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تِبْيَـٰنًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ 89
Translations
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves [i.e., their prophet]. And We will bring you, [O Muḥammad], as a witness over these [i.e., your nation]. And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims.
Transliteration
Wa-yawma nab'athu fee kulli ummatin shaheedan alayhim min anfusihim wa ji'na bika shaheedan ala haula'i wa nazzalna alayka al-kitaba tibyana li-kulli shay'in wa hudan wa rahmatan wa bushra lil-muslimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when Allah will raise a witness from each nation to testify against their own people, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) will be a witness over all of humanity. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the Qur'an is presented here as a comprehensive guidance containing clear explanations for all matters of faith and practice, serving as a mercy and good tidings for believers. The comprehensive nature of the Qur'an (tibyana li-kulli shay'in) is understood by scholars to mean clarity on matters of religion and guidance for salvation, not technical or scientific knowledge of all worldly matters.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period (Surah An-Nahl is primarily Meccan) and addresses the certainty of the Day of Judgment and the finality of the Qur'an's revelation. It comes in the broader context of Surah An-Nahl which discusses divine signs and blessings, emphasizing the completeness of Allah's guidance through the Qur'an and the Prophet's universal mission.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the hadith where the Prophet said: 'I have been sent with the Qur'an and something like it' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4604) refers to the Sunnah complementing the Qur'anic guidance mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that the Qur'an is a complete and timeless guidance for all aspects of religious life, and that we will be held accountable for our deeds with the Prophet as a witness to our actions. It instills confidence that those who follow the Qur'an and the Prophet's example have been given clear direction toward righteousness and spiritual success in both this life and the Hereafter.