وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 28
Translations
And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.
Transliteration
Wa mā arsalnāka illā kāffatan li-n-nāsi bashīran wa nadhīran wa lākin akthara n-nāsi lā ya'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a messenger to all of humanity—both as a bearer of good tidings (bashir) for the believers and as a warner (nadhir) for those who reject. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the universality of his message transcends all nationalities, tribes, and peoples, making Islam a religion for all times and peoples. However, the ayah concludes with a note of sadness that despite this universal message, most people lack knowledge or understanding of the truth, reflecting the human tendency toward heedlessness.
Revelation Context
Surah Saba is a Meccan surah that addresses the polytheists of Mecca and discusses themes of divine unity, prophethood, and the reality of the Day of Judgment. This particular ayah comes in the context of defending the Prophet's mission against those who rejected his message, affirming the comprehensiveness of his prophetic role and implicitly criticizing those who failed to recognize it.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'I have been sent to all of humanity' (Authenticated in Sahih Muslim). Also relevant is the hadith: 'The scholars are the heirs of the prophets' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), emphasizing the continuation of the mission of guidance after the Prophet's time.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that the Prophet's message was intended for all people across time and space, not limited to any particular group, making Islam's principles universally applicable and relevant. It should also inspire us to recognize our responsibility to seek knowledge and understanding of divine guidance, rather than joining the majority who remain heedless of truth.
Related Ayahs
فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يَمْلِكُ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ نَّفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا وَنَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ
But today [i.e., the Day of Judgement] you do not hold for one another [the power of] benefit or harm, and We will say to those who wronged, "Taste the punishment of the Fire, which you used to deny."
قُلْ إِن ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَآ أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِى ۖ وَإِنِ ٱهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِىٓ إِلَىَّ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ
Say, "If I should err, I would only err against myself. But if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. Indeed, He is Hearing and near."
لِّيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. Those will have forgiveness and noble provision.
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُۥ عَيْنَ ٱلْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind - its morning [journey was that of] a month - and its afternoon [journey was that of] a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper. And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command - We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze.