تَنزِيلٌ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 2
Translations
[This is] a revelation from the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful -
Transliteration
Tanzilun min ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that the Quran is a revelation (tanzil) sent down from Allah, who is characterized by both mercy (ar-Rahman) and compassion (ar-Rahim). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement emphasizes the divine origin of the Quran and establishes Allah's merciful nature as the foundation of this revelation, assuring believers that what follows is a message of guidance rooted in divine compassion rather than harshness.
Revelation Context
Surah Fussilat opens with this declaration of the Quran's divine origin in Mecca, where the polytheists disputed the Quranic message. This ayah serves as a definitive statement to establish the Quran's authenticity and divine source at the very beginning of the surah, setting the tone for the detailed explanations (fussilat) that follow throughout the chapter.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The most merciful of people is the one who is merciful to others,' which reflects the theme of Allah's mercy (Rahman and Rahim) emphasized in this ayah. (Related to themes in At-Tirmidhi and other collections). Additionally, 'Verily, my mercy encompasses all things' (Quran 7:156) directly complements this ayah's emphasis on divine mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that the Quran is not a human composition but a divine gift sent with mercy and compassion for humanity's guidance. This understanding should inspire confidence in the Quran's message and cultivate gratitude toward Allah for His merciful revelation.
Related Ayahs
مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۗ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
Whoever does righteousness - it is for his [own] soul; and whoever does evil [does so] against it. And your Lord is not ever unjust to [His] servants.
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ خَـٰشِعَةً فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And of His signs is that you see the earth stilled, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and grows. Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of Life to the dead. Indeed, He is over all things competent.
وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا فِىٓ أَكِنَّةٍ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِنَا وَقْرٌ وَمِنۢ بَيْنِنَا وَبَيْنِكَ حِجَابٌ فَٱعْمَلْ إِنَّنَا عَـٰمِلُونَ
And they say, "Our hearts are within coverings [i.e., screened] from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a partition, so work; indeed, we are working."
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ فَٱخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ ۗ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ
And We had already given Moses the Scripture, but it came under disagreement. And if not for a word [i.e., decree] that preceded from your Lord, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed they are, concerning it [i.e., the Qur’ān], in disquieting doubt.