رَفِيعُ ٱلدَّرَجَـٰتِ ذُو ٱلْعَرْشِ يُلْقِى ٱلرُّوحَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ لِيُنذِرَ يَوْمَ ٱلتَّلَاقِ 15
Translations
[He is] the Exalted above [all] degrees, Owner of the Throne; He places the inspiration of His command [i.e., revelation] upon whom He wills of His servants to warn of the Day of Meeting.
Transliteration
Rafee'u ad-darajāti dhū al-'arshi yulqī ar-rūḥa min amrihi 'alā man yashā'u min 'ibādihi liyundhira yawma at-talāqi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's majesty and authority: He is the Most High, Possessor of the Throne, who reveals divine inspiration (the Spirit/Revelation) to whom He wills among His servants for the purpose of warning humanity about the Day of Meeting (Resurrection). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'ar-rūḥ' (the Spirit) refers to Jibrīl (Gabriel) or the revelation itself, emphasizing that prophecy and divine guidance are exclusive prerogatives of Allah granted solely according to His divine wisdom and will.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ghafir, which emphasizes Allah's attributes of forgiveness and majesty. It follows discussion of those who believe in Allah's signs and serves to establish that the divine message comes through chosen messengers whom Allah has specifically selected to convey His message and warn humanity.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4705): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'When Allah intends good for someone, He grants them understanding of the religion.' This relates to the concept of Allah choosing whom to grant understanding and revelation. Also relevant: Muslim (177) regarding the ranks and stations of the Prophet ﷺ and the angels.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that prophethood and divine guidance are exclusive grants from Allah based on His infinite wisdom, not human merit or desire. For modern readers, it emphasizes trusting in the authenticity of the Quranic message while recognizing that understanding and spiritual elevation come directly from Allah's grace.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥٓ إِذَا دُعِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُۥ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِۦ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ فَٱلْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْعَلِىِّ ٱلْكَبِيرِ
[They will be told], "That is because, when Allāh was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allāh, the Most High, the Grand."
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِۦ مُشْرِكِينَ
And when they saw Our punishment, they said, "We believe in Allāh alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him."
فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـٰنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا ۖ سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
But never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment. [It is] the established way of Allāh which has preceded among His servants. And the disbelievers thereupon lost [all].
يَـٰقَوْمِ لَكُمُ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ظَـٰهِرِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَن يَنصُرُنَا مِنۢ بَأْسِ ٱللَّهِ إِن جَآءَنَا ۚ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ مَآ أُرِيكُمْ إِلَّا مَآ أَرَىٰ وَمَآ أَهْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا سَبِيلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ
O my people, sovereignty is yours today, [your being] dominant in the land. But who would protect us from the punishment of Allāh if it came to us?" Pharaoh said, "I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct."