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
لَّا يَسْـَٔمُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مِن دُعَآءِ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَإِن مَّسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ فَيَـُٔوسٌ قَنُوطٌ
Man is not weary of supplication for good [things], but if evil touches him, he is hopeless and despairing.
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.
فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا۟ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ
As for ʿAad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, "Who is greater than us in strength?" Did they not consider that Allāh who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs.
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.