۞ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَعِظُكُم بِوَٰحِدَةٍ ۖ أَن تَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ مَثْنَىٰ وَفُرَٰدَىٰ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ ۚ مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ لَّكُم بَيْنَ يَدَىْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ 46
Translations
Say, "I only advise you of one [thing] - that you stand for Allāh, [seeking truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought." There is not in your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.
Transliteration
Qul innama a'izukum biwahidah an taqomu lillahi mathna wa furada thumma tatafikkaroo ma bisahibikum min jinnah in huwa illa nadhirun lakum bayna yaday adhabin shadid
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad is commanded to convey a single, unified message to his people: that they should stand before Allah in pairs and individually, then reflect upon the message with sincerity. He clarifies that he is not possessed by jinn (madness), but rather a clear warner sent to them before a severe punishment arrives. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that 'standing before Allah' refers to complete devotion and readiness to obey, while the pairing and individual standing emphasizes both communal and personal accountability before the Almighty.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Saba, a Meccan chapter that addresses the disbelievers' accusations and mockery of the Prophet's message. The context involves refuting the Meccan pagans' claims that the Prophet was afflicted with madness or possessed by jinn—a common accusation against him. The surah's broader theme concerns monotheism, divine warnings, and the consequences of rejecting Allah's message.
Related Hadiths
The concept of sincere reflection (tafakkur) is emphasized in the hadith: 'The best worship is the reflection (tafakkur) upon Allah and His creation' (reported in various collections including Al-Tabarani). Additionally, the Prophet's role as a warner is confirmed in Surah 74:2: 'O you who have wrapped yourself in clothing, Arise and warn!' (Sahih Bukhari references this obligation of prophetic warning).
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are called to approach their faith both individually and communally, with sincere reflection rather than blind following, while recognizing that clear warnings from Allah demand immediate and thoughtful response. The ayah teaches that true spiritual standing requires both personal conviction and communal participation in obedience to Allah's message.
Related Ayahs
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."
وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبْلُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ فِى شَكٍّ مُّرِيبٍۭ
And prevention will be placed between them and what they desire, as was done with their kind before. Indeed, they were in disquieting doubt [i.e., denial].
أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِن نَّشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ
Then, do they not look at what is before them and what is behind them of the heaven and earth? If We should will, We could cause the earth to swallow them or [could] let fall upon them fragments from the sky. Indeed in that is a sign for every servant turning back [to Allāh].
وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلتَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
And they will [then] say, "We believe in it!" But how for them will be the taking [of faith] from a place far away?