وَمَا عَلَّمْنَـٰهُ ٱلشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنۢبَغِى لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْءَانٌ مُّبِينٌ 69
Translations
And We did not give him [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] knowledge of poetry, nor is it befitting for him. It is not but a message and a clear Qur’ān
Transliteration
Wa mā 'allamnāhu ash-shi'ra wa mā yanbaghī lahu, in huwa illā dhikrun wa Qur'ānun mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the Meccan polytheists' false accusation that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a poet composing the Qur'an. Allah asserts that He never taught the Prophet poetry, nor is it befitting for him, emphasizing instead that what he conveys is merely a reminder (dhikr) and a clear recitation (Qur'an). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this distinction between the miraculous nature of the Qur'an—with its unique linguistic structure, guidance, and divine origin—and the crafted nature of human poetry.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ya-Sin's response to the disbelievers' objections to the Prophet's message in Mecca. The broader context addresses various accusations leveled against the Prophet and the Qur'an, particularly the claim that he was merely composing poetry or following legends of the ancients, which the surah systematically refutes.
Related Hadiths
'Ā'ishah reported: 'The Prophet never spoke in rhyming couplets, but he used to speak in a clear, plain manner' (related to the distinction made here). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet distances himself from poetry: 'The best word is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad.'
Themes
Key Lesson
The Qur'an possesses a character entirely distinct from human creativity and rhetoric; its authority derives from divine origin, not literary artistry. For believers, this reinforces confidence in the authenticity of the Qur'an and the truthfulness of the Prophet's mission against all skepticism and doubt.