نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍ ۖ فَذَكِّرْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ 45
Translations
We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant. But remind by the Qur’ān whoever fears My threat.
Transliteration
Nahnu a'lamu bima yaqulun, wa ma anta alayhim bijabbar, fadhakkir bil-Qur'ani man yakhaf wa'id
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah assures the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that He is fully aware of what the disbelievers say, and commands him not to be a tyrant or compel people to believe, but rather to remind them through the Qur'an. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that the Prophet's role is to convey the message, not to force acceptance, and that the fear of Allah's punishment (wa'id) is what moves hearts toward faith. The reminder of the Qur'an is therefore directed toward those who possess the capacity to fear Allah's warnings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Qaf, a Meccan surah that addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Message and resurrection. It comes after discussions of their denial and mockery, and serves to console the Prophet regarding their rejection while clarifying that his duty is to deliver the message through the Qur'an to those receptive to it.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Anas ibn Malik in Sahih Bukhari relates that the Prophet said, 'Facilitate matters and do not complicate them,' which aligns with the principle of gentle reminder without coercion. Also relevant is the hadith in Muslim about the Prophet's patience with disbelievers and his role as a warner rather than a punisher.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers today should recognize that our responsibility is to convey the truth with wisdom and compassion, not to coerce or judge hearts, trusting that Allah knows all intentions. The most effective form of dawah (invitation to Islam) is through the Qur'an and reminders that appeal to those who possess God-consciousness and fear of the Day of Judgment.