وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ۚ وَكَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ تَكْلِيمًا 164
Translations
And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allāh spoke to Moses with [direct] speech.
Transliteration
Wa rusulun qad qasasnāhum 'alayka min qablu wa rusulun lam naqsus'hum 'alayka, wa kallama Allāhu Mūsā takleemā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah sent many messengers to humanity—some whose stories were narrated to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Quran, and others whose stories were not detailed for him. It emphasizes Allah's direct speech to Musa (Moses), a unique distinction granted to him. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this highlights the incompleteness of human knowledge regarding all the prophets, while underscoring Musa's elevated station as one of the five greatest messengers (Ulul-'Azm) to whom Allah spoke directly without intermediaries.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nisa, a Medinan chapter that discusses Islamic legislation and social matters. It comes within a passage addressing the primacy of messengers and prophets in guiding humanity, contextualizing the prophetic mission within the broader framework of Islamic belief. The mention of Musa's direct communication with Allah relates to establishing the credibility and hierarchy of prophetic knowledge.
Related Hadiths
Hadith reported by Ibn Majah and At-Tirmidhi from Abu Umamah: 'The Prophets who spoke with Allah are five: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, 'Isa, and Muhammad.' This directly illustrates the special status of those to whom Allah spoke directly (Kaleem).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers humility regarding divine knowledge—we cannot know all that Allah knows, including the full histories of all His messengers. It also reminds us that the Quran, though comprehensive in guidance, represents what Allah chose to share with humanity, inviting us to trust in Divine Wisdom rather than demand complete knowledge of all spiritual realities.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allāh, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allāh except a little,
وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَـٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً ۚ فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَىْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـًٔا مَّرِيٓـًٔا
And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.
وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمْ عَلِيمًا
And what [harm would come] upon them if they believed in Allāh and the Last Day and spent out of what Allāh provided for them? And Allāh is ever, about them, Knowing.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allāh. But if you disbelieve - then to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allāh Free of need and Praiseworthy.