رُّسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّسُلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا 165
Translations
[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allāh after the messengers. And ever is Allāh Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Rusulam mubashshirina wa mundhirina li-allaa yakuna li-l-nasi ala l-lahi hujjatun baada l-rusul. Wa kana l-lahu azizun hakiman.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah sent messengers as bearers of glad tidings and as warners so that humanity would have no argument or excuse before Allah after the coming of the prophets. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the dual role of messengers—bringing good news of reward for the righteous and warning of punishment for the disobedient—establishes clear proof (hujjah) against all people, eliminating any pretext for disbelief or rejection. The ayah concludes by emphasizing Allah's might (izzah) and wisdom (hikma) in this divine methodology.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of Allah's justice and the transmission of divine revelation. It relates to the broader Medinan theme of establishing the inescapability of the divine message and the responsibility of those who receive it, particularly relevant as the Islamic state was being established and people of various backgrounds were encountering the Message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every child is born upon the fitra (natural disposition), but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian' (Sahih Bukhari 1385), reflecting the concept that clear guidance has been made available. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the Prophet's intercession on the Day of Judgment, which emphasizes the responsibility placed upon those who received the message through the messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah has provided clear guidance through His messengers, leaving no excuse for those who reject faith, and emphasizes our responsibility to convey the message with both encouragement and warning, reflecting the balanced approach required in Islamic da'wah (preaching).
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
وَقِيلَ ٱدْعُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَكُمْ فَدَعَوْهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُمْ وَرَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۚ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَهْتَدُونَ
And it will be said, "Invoke your 'partners,'" and they will invoke them; but they will not respond to them, and they will see the punishment. If only they had followed guidance!
لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلَآ أَمَانِىِّ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۗ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا يُجْزَ بِهِۦ وَلَا يَجِدْ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
It [i.e., Paradise] is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allāh a protector or a helper.
تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَـٰلِحُونَ
The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles.