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
وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُۥ شَيْطَـٰنًا فَهُوَ لَهُۥ قَرِينٌ
And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِّلْـَٔاخِرِينَ
And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُۥ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
And when one of them is given good tidings of that which he attributes to the Most Merciful in comparison [i.e., a daughter], his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.
وَتَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَعِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And blessed is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them and with whom is knowledge of the Hour and to whom you will be returned.