وَأَنْ أَتْلُوَا۟ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ ۖ فَمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُنذِرِينَ 92
Translations
And to recite the Qur’ān." And whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] himself; and whoever strays - say, "I am only [one] of the warners."
Transliteration
Wa an atluwā al-Qur'āna faman ihtadā fa innamā yahtadī li nafsih wa man dallā faqul innamā anā min al-mundhirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the Prophet's mission statement, emphasizing that his role is to recite the Qur'an and warn people, not to compel them to believe. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, whoever finds guidance through the Qur'an benefits their own soul, while whoever goes astray bears their own burden—the Prophet is merely a warner, not responsible for their choice. This establishes the principle of human free will alongside divine guidance and the limits of the Prophet's responsibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears at the end of Surah An-Naml (Chapter 27), which is a Meccan surah dealing with divine signs and the stories of previous prophets. It comes after the narrative of Prophet Sulayman and provides a conclusive statement about the Prophet Muhammad's mission during the Meccan period when preaching was met with resistance and rejection.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Sahih Bukhari (3367) where the Prophet said: 'By Allah, if Allah guides one man through you, it is better for you than red camels,' emphasizing that guidance is from Allah. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the Prophet's responsibility being only to convey the message clearly, not to guide hearts.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that while we are responsible for seeking and sharing truth, ultimate guidance comes from Allah alone, and each person bears responsibility for their own spiritual choices. This liberates us from the burden of forcing others to believe while motivating us to earnestly convey the message with sincerity.
Related Ayahs
وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ جُنُودُهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ وَٱلطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows
قِيلَ لَهَا ٱدْخُلِى ٱلصَّرْحَ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ حَسِبَتْهُ لُجَّةً وَكَشَفَتْ عَن سَاقَيْهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ صَرْحٌ مُّمَرَّدٌ مِّن قَوَارِيرَ ۗ قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى وَأَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
She was told, "Enter the palace." But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water and uncovered her shins [to wade through]. He said, "Indeed, it is a palace [whose floor is] made smooth with glass." She said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allāh, Lord of the worlds."
ٱذْهَب بِّكِتَـٰبِى هَـٰذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ
Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return."
قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْغَيْبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allāh, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected."