إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخْشَىٰهَا 45
Translations
You are only a warner for those who fear it.
Transliteration
Innama anta mundhiru man yakhshaha
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the Prophet (peace be upon him), clarifying that his role is to warn only those who fear Allah and are receptive to the message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that the Prophet's responsibility is limited to conveying the message clearly; he cannot compel belief in those whose hearts are sealed or who reject the signs. This distinction absolves the Prophet of responsibility for those who refuse to heed the warning despite clear communication.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah An-Nazi'at, which deals with themes of the Hereafter and Divine judgment. It comes in the context of the surah's discussion of the Day of Judgment and serves to console the Prophet regarding his struggle with those who rejected his message in Mecca, reminding him that his duty is only to warn the willing listeners.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here aligns with Surah Al-Ghashiyah 88:21-22, where Allah says the Prophet's duty is only to remind, not to compel. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's statement 'I have been commanded to fight people until they testify...' shows the distinction between conveying the message and people's choice in accepting it.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that in spreading Islam or any good message, our responsibility is to communicate clearly and sincerely to receptive hearts; we cannot force belief or acceptance. The lesson for modern readers is to pursue wisdom in da'wah (invitation to faith) by focusing energy on those genuinely seeking truth while maintaining patience with those who reject, trusting in Allah's ultimate judgment.