وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ 47
Translations
And for every nation is a messenger. So when their messenger comes, it will be judged between them in justice, and they will not be wronged.
Transliteration
Wa likulli ummatin rasoolun, fa idha jaa rasooluhum qudiya baynahum bil-qisti wa hum la yuzlamoon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the universal principle that every nation receives a messenger from Allah to guide them, and when that messenger comes, Allah will judge between the people with perfect justice on the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this demonstrates Allah's fairness—no people will be punished without having received clear guidance through a messenger, and the final judgment will be absolutely equitable with no injustice whatsoever.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Yunus (a Meccan chapter) within the broader context of refuting polytheist objections and establishing the universality of the prophetic message. It serves to console the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by reminding him that all nations have received messengers before him, and it warns disbelievers that they too will face just judgment despite their rejection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every nation has a prophet and messenger,' narrated in various forms in Musnad Ahmad and other collections. Additionally, the hadith about the Day of Judgment emphasizing divine justice: 'The most grievous sin in Allah's sight is that a person should accuse another of disbelief, or kill someone who does not worship anyone but Allah' (Sahih Bukhari), relates to the theme of just judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's justice is perfect and comprehensive—He holds all nations accountable fairly through messengers, and no one will suffer injustice on the Day of Judgment. For modern readers, it reinforces trust in Allah's wisdom and fairness, encouraging patience with divine decree and confidence that ultimate justice will prevail.
Related Ayahs
فَذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ إِلَّا ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصْرَفُونَ
For that is Allāh, your Lord, the Truth. And what can be beyond truth except error? So how are you averted?
وَمَا تَكُونُ فِى شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُوا۟ مِنْهُ مِن قُرْءَانٍ وَلَا تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلَّا كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا يَعْزُبُ عَن رَّبِّكَ مِن مِّثْقَالِ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَآ أَصْغَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكْبَرَ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ
And, [O Muḥammad], you are not [engaged] in any matter and do not recite any of the Qur’ān and you [people] do not do any deed except that We are witness over you when you are involved in it. And not absent from your Lord is any [part] of an atom's weight within the earth or within the heaven or [anything] smaller than that or greater but that it is in a clear register.
قُلِ ٱنظُرُوا۟ مَاذَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَا تُغْنِى ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ وَٱلنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "Observe what is in the heavens and the earth." But of no avail will be signs or warners to a people who do not believe.
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth. And those who invoke other than Allāh do not [actually] follow [His] "partners." They follow not except assumption, and they are not but misjudging.