فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُم مَّآ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦٓ إِلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ رَبِّى قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّونَهُۥ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ 57
Translations
But if you turn away, then I have already conveyed that with which I was sent to you. My Lord will give succession to a people other than you, and you will not harm Him at all. Indeed my Lord is, over all things, Guardian."
Transliteration
Fa-in tawallaw fa-qad ablaghtukum ma ursiltu bihi ilaykum wa-yastakhlifu rabbi qawman ghayrakum wa-la tadurroonahu shay-an inna rabbi ala kulli shay-in hafiz
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Hud declares that he has fulfilled his obligation by conveying Allah's message to his people, and warns them that if they turn away, Allah will replace them with another people who will obey Him. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this statement reflects the completion of the prophetic mission and demonstrates Allah's sovereignty—the rejection of His message by one people does not diminish His power, as He can always find others willing to submit. Al-Tabari notes that the phrase 'they will not harm Him in anything' signifies that human disobedience cannot affect Allah's perfection or dominion, and the final affirmation that 'My Lord is Guardian over all things' underscores divine omniscience and protection of His religion.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Hud's address to the people of 'Ad, delivered after they persistently rejected his message of monotheism. It appears in the latter portion of the surah, which recounts the stories of various prophets and their peoples' responses to divine guidance. The context reflects the universal pattern wherein prophets warn their nations and, when rejected, announce that their duty is complete and that Allah's will shall prevail regardless.
Related Hadiths
The principle here relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it,' emphasizing the completion of the prophetic duty. Additionally, Muslim records a hadith about the Prophet's responsibility: 'I have been commanded to recite the Qur'an,' reflecting the obligation to convey the message completely.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that their primary responsibility is to convey the truth sincerely and completely; the acceptance or rejection of the message is ultimately in Allah's hands. It provides comfort that the failure of some to accept faith does not diminish Allah's plan, and encourages perseverance in calling others to righteousness while trusting in Allah's wisdom and ultimate control over all affairs.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَـٰلِحًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْىِ يَوْمِئِذٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ
So when Our command came, We saved Ṣāliḥ and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us, and [saved them] from the disgrace of that day. Indeed, it is your Lord who is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِى وَتَرْحَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
[Noah] said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers."
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
Those are the ones who will have lost themselves, and lost from them is what they used to invent.
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَءَاتَىٰنِى رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِهِۦ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا وَأَنتُمْ لَهَا كَـٰرِهُونَ
He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I should be upon clear evidence from my Lord while He has given me mercy from Himself but it has been made unapparent to you, should we force it upon you while you are averse to it?