لِّيُنذِرَ مَن كَانَ حَيًّا وَيَحِقَّ ٱلْقَوْلُ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 70
Translations
To warn whoever is alive and justify the word [i.e., decree] against the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Li-yundhira man kana hayyan wa yahaqqal-qawlu alal-kafirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that the Quran serves as a warning for those who are spiritually alive and receptive to guidance, and it fulfills the decree of Allah against the disbelievers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that 'hayyan' (alive) refers to those with living hearts capable of understanding the message, while the 'word' (God's promise of punishment) becomes established against those who reject it. The ayah highlights the dual purpose of the Quranic message: as mercy and guidance for the sincere, and as a seal of condemnation for those who knowingly turn away.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ya-Sin, a Meccan chapter that extensively addresses the Quran's role as a guidance and warning. The broader context of verses 36:69-70 defends the divine origin of the Quran against Meccan accusations that it was human fabrication, emphasizing that it serves its intended purpose regardless of whether people accept or reject it.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has imagined' (Sahih Bukhari 3072), illustrating the Quran's role in distinguishing the righteous from the rejectors. Also relevant is the hadith on the Quran's dual nature: 'The Quran is either for you or against you' (referring to its role as witness for or against souls).
Themes
Key Lesson
The Quran's effectiveness depends not on itself but on the spiritual condition of the heart—those with living, conscious hearts benefit from its guidance, while those who suppress truth face its judgment. Modern readers should examine their own receptivity to divine guidance and recognize that merely hearing the message is insufficient without sincere engagement and obedience.