قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ 6
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that your god is but one God; so take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness." And woe to those who associate others with Allāh
Transliteration
Qul innama ana basharun mithlukum yuha ila anna ilahakum ilahun wahid fastaqimu ilayhi wastaghfiruh wa waylun lil-mushrikeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that he is merely a human like other humans, but he receives divine revelation confirming that their God is One God alone. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah addresses the Meccan polytheists who rejected the Prophet's message, possibly because they expected angels rather than a human messenger. The command to be steadfast toward Allah and seek His forgiveness serves as both an exhortation to believers and a final warning to those who associate partners with Allah, upon whom ruin (wail) is promised.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Fussilat, a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islamic propagation when the Quraysh rejected the Prophet's message. The context addresses the objections of Meccan disbelievers who doubted the Prophet's humanity and the oneness of Allah. It forms part of the broader Meccan emphasis on tawhid (monotheism) and the humanity of the messenger.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected in this ayah relates to Sahih Muslim's hadith where the Prophet said, 'I am only a human being like you; I forget as you forget.' Additionally, Surah 18:110 carries a parallel message: 'Say, I am only a man like you to whom has been revealed that your god is one God.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that spiritual leadership and divine guidance do not require superhuman or angelic qualities, but rather sincere humanity coupled with divine revelation and moral integrity. For believers, it emphasizes that following the Prophet's example—staying steadfast toward Allah and continuously seeking His forgiveness—is the path to salvation, while rejection of monotheism leads to destruction.
Related Ayahs
وَنَجَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allāh.
وَذَٰلِكُمْ ظَنُّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى ظَنَنتُم بِرَبِّكُمْ أَرْدَىٰكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
And that was your assumption which you assumed about your Lord. It has brought you to ruin, and you have become among the losers."
وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَـٰذَا لِى وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّجِعْتُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّىٓ إِنَّ لِى عِندَهُۥ لَلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ فَلَنُنَبِّئَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ
And if We let him taste mercy from Us after an adversity which has touched him, he will surely say, "This is [due] to me, and I do not think the Hour will occur; and [even] if I should be returned to my Lord, indeed, for me there will be with Him the best." But We will surely inform those who disbelieved about what they did, and We will surely make them taste a massive punishment.
ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ أَعْدَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا دَارُ ٱلْخُلْدِ ۖ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ
That is the recompense of the enemies of Allāh - the Fire. For them therein is the home of eternity as recompense for what they, of Our verses, were rejecting.