هَـٰذَا بَلَـٰغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَلِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ 52
Translations
This [Qur’ān] is notification for the people that they may be warned thereby and that they may know that He is but one God and that those of understanding will be reminded.
Transliteration
Hādhā balāghun lilnnāsi wa liyundhharū bihi wa liya'lamū anna mā huwa ilāhun wāhidun wa liyadhdhakkara ulū al-albāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, concluding Surah Ibrahim, emphasizes that the Quran is a complete message for all humanity, serving as a warning and a means of knowledge that there is only one God worthy of worship. Ibn Kathir notes that this verse summarizes the primary purposes of the Quran: to convey the message, warn people of punishment, establish monotheism, and remind those of understanding (the people of intellect). Al-Qurtubi highlights that "ulū al-albāb" (those of understanding) refers to those who reflect and comprehend the signs of Allah.
Revelation Context
This verse appears at the conclusion of Surah Ibrahim, a Meccan chapter that extensively addresses the mockery faced by the Prophet and the fundamental call to tawhīd (monotheism). It serves as a conclusive statement of the Quran's universal message and purpose during the early Meccan period when the Prophet faced significant opposition.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4988: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best supplication is that on the Day of Arafah,' relating to the comprehension theme. Also relevant: Sunan Ibn Majah 3682 regarding the importance of understanding ('aql) in faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the Quran's primary objectives are to communicate God's message clearly to all people, warn them of consequences, and establish monotheism—reminding us that true benefit from the Quran comes through sincere reflection and the engagement of our intellect in understanding its signs.
Related Ayahs
لِيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
So that Allāh will recompense every soul for what it earned. Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.
وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ
And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor [i.e., blessings] of Allāh, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful.
يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ
Allāh keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allāh sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allāh does what He wills.
أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ ۛ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۛ لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَرَدُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِىٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَنَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ
Has there not reached you the news of those before you - the people of Noah and ʿAad and Thamūd and those after them? No one knows them [i.e., their number] but Allāh. Their messengers brought them clear proofs, but they returned their hands to their mouths and said, "Indeed, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and indeed we are, about that to which you invite us, in disquieting doubt."