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
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
Praise to Allāh, who has granted to me in old age Ishmael and Isaac. Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا ۖ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And those who disbelieved said to their messengers, "We will surely drive you out of our land, or you must return to our religion." So their Lord inspired to them, "We will surely destroy the wrongdoers.
يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ
He will gulp it but will hardly [be able to] swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die. And before him is a massive punishment.
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ
The example of those who disbelieve in their Lord is [that] their deeds are like ashes which the wind blows forcefully on a stormy day; they are unable [to keep] from what they earned a [single] thing. That is what is extreme error.