۞ 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 جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَمَا يُبْدِئُ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ وَمَا يُعِيدُ
Say, "The truth has come, and falsehood can neither begin [anything] nor repeat [it]."
قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allāh." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.
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.
وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُۥ فَٱتَّبَعُوهُ إِلَّا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And Iblees had already confirmed through them his assumption, so they followed him, except for a party of believers.