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
قَالُوٓا۟ أَوَلَمْ تَكُ تَأْتِيكُمْ رُسُلُكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۚ قَالُوا۟ فَٱدْعُوا۟ ۗ وَمَا دُعَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
They will say, "Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?" They will say, "Yes." They will reply, "Then supplicate [yourselves], but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error [i.e., futility]."
أَسْبَـٰبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ فَأَطَّلِعَ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ كَـٰذِبًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِفِرْعَوْنَ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَصُدَّ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۚ وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلَّا فِى تَبَابٍ
The ways into the heavens - so that I may look at the deity of Moses; but indeed, I think he is a liar." And thus was made attractive to Pharaoh the evil of his deed, and he was averted from the [right] way. And the plan of Pharaoh was not except in ruin.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَـٰنٍ أَتَىٰهُمْ ۙ إِن فِى صُدُورِهِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَّا هُم بِبَـٰلِغِيهِ ۚ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Indeed, those who dispute concerning the signs of Allāh without [any] evidence having come to them - there is not within their breasts except pride, [the extent of] which they cannot reach. So seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Seeing.
تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
The revelation of the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] is from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Knowing,