وَكَمْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن نَّبِىٍّ فِى ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 6
Translations
And how many a prophet We sent among the former peoples,
Transliteration
Wa-kam arsalnā min nabiyyin fī al-awwalīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rhetorically emphasizes that Allah sent many prophets throughout history before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Ibn Kathir notes this verse serves as a reminder to the Meccan disbelievers that rejection of prophets is not unprecedented—many nations before them also rejected their messengers, yet Allah's plan continued. The passage underscores the continuity of divine guidance and the consistent pattern of human resistance to prophetic messages across generations.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Az-Zukhruf, which addresses the idolatry and false beliefs of the Quraysh. The broader surah discusses how previous nations were similarly given clear signs and messengers, yet they remained heedless. This ayah specifically reinforces that the rejection faced by the Prophet in Mecca follows a historical pattern established in earlier communities.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (#3442) where the Prophet mentions that there were 124,000 prophets sent by Allah emphasizes the vast number of messengers throughout history. Additionally, Surah Al-Ghafir (40:34) and related traditions discuss how every nation received a messenger, reinforcing the theme of universal prophethood.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that experiencing rejection or opposition while following truth is not a sign of failure, but rather part of the established sunnah (pattern) of Allah throughout history. Believers should find solace in understanding that prophets before Muhammad faced similar trials, and should remain steadfast in their faith despite societal resistance to divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ سَيَهْدِينِ
Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."
وَزُخْرُفًا ۚ وَإِن كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.
۞ قَـٰلَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُم بِأَهْدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدتُّمْ عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ
[Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
And if you should ask them, "Who has created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "They were created by the Exalted in Might, the Knowing,"