تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ 2
Translations
The revelation of the Book is from Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Transliteration
Tanzīlu al-Kitābi mina Allāhi al-'Azīzi al-Hakīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that the Quran is a revelation (tanzīl) sent down from Allah, who possesses absolute power ('Azīz) and perfect wisdom (Hakīm). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this opening declaration establishes the divine origin and authority of the Quran, rejecting any claims that it is human composition. The attributes of Allah mentioned here—Al-'Azīz (The Mighty/Invincible) and Al-Hakīm (The All-Wise)—demonstrate that the Quran's revelation flows from one whose power cannot be overcome and whose wisdom is perfect and infallible.
Revelation Context
This ayah opens Surah Al-Ahqaf, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when the Quraysh were actively rejecting the message of the Prophet Muhammad. The ayah directly confronts Meccan disbelievers by asserting the Quran's divine provenance, countering their accusations that the Prophet was fabricating it. The surah's context includes warnings to those who reject revelation and narratives of past peoples who denied their prophets.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'Whoever reads the Quran, then asks Allah through it for something that is lawful, Allah will give it to him' (Tirmidhi 2904), emphasizing the Quran's divine guidance and efficacy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize the Quran as a divine gift from the All-Powerful and All-Wise Allah, not a human composition, which should inspire confidence in following its guidance and defending it against skeptics. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that the Quran's comprehensiveness and solutions to human problems reflect divine wisdom that transcends human limitations and changing circumstances.
Related Ayahs
وَمِن قَبْلِهِۦ كِتَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً ۚ وَهَـٰذَا كِتَـٰبٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And before it was the scripture of Moses to lead and as a mercy. And this is a confirming Book in an Arabic tongue to warn those who have wronged and as good tidings to the doers of good.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
They said, "Have you come to delude us away from our gods? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful."
وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
But one who says to his parents, "Uff to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allāh for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former peoples" -
۞ وَٱذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُۥ بِٱلْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
And mention, [O Muḥammad], the brother of ʿAad, when he warned his people in [the region of] al-Aḥqāf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."