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 ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا۟ فِى ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ فَٱنكِحُوا۟ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ فَوَٰحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا۟
And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hands possess [i.e., slaves]. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۭ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شَهِيدًا
So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and We bring you, [O Muḥammad], against these [people] as a witness?
۞ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۖ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُم مَّا وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُم مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ ۚ فَمَا ٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِهِۦ مِنْهُنَّ فَـَٔاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا تَرَٰضَيْتُم بِهِۦ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْفَرِيضَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of Allāh upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. So for whatever you enjoy [of marriage] from them, give them their due compensation as an obligation. And there is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to beyond the obligation. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.