ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُۥ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا 39
Translations
[Allāh praises] those who convey the messages of Allāh and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allāh. And sufficient is Allāh as Accountant.
Transliteration
Al-ladhīna yuballighūna risālāti Allāhi wa-yakhshawnahū wa-lā yakhshawna aḥadan illā Allāh. Wa-kafā bi-Allāhi ḥasībā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the qualities of the prophets and truthful messengers—those who convey Allah's messages completely without fear or favor, fearing only Allah and no other creation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that true messengers prioritize their duty to Allah above all worldly pressures, and Allah Himself is sufficient as a witness and reckoner of their deeds. Al-Qurtubi notes this reflects the characteristic of complete sincerity (ikhlāṣ) required of those entrusted with divine revelation.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during the Battle of the Confederates (Ghazwat al-Aḥzāb), this ayah is part of a passage discussing the qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and those who follow his example. The broader context of Surah Al-Ahzab addresses trials faced by the Muslim community and reinforces the importance of unwavering faith and duty to Allah despite external pressures and threats.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken in front of a tyrant ruler' (Sunan Ibn Mājah, Sunan at-Tirmidhī). Additionally, the hadith: 'Fear Allah wherever you are; follow a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it out' emphasizes the centrality of fearing only Allah (Sunan at-Tirmidhī).
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires courage to uphold divine truth without fear of human judgment or consequences—our ultimate accountability is to Allah alone. This ayah calls believers to examine whether they prioritize divine pleasure over worldly acceptance, inspiring steadfastness in conveying truth and living according to Islamic principles despite social or political pressure.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ إِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا
O Prophet, say to your wives, "If you should desire the worldly life and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and give you a gracious release.
وَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا مَا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَصَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ وَمَا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّآ إِيمَـٰنًا وَتَسْلِيمًا
And when the believers saw the companies, they said, "This is what Allāh and His Messenger had promised us, and Allāh and His Messenger spoke the truth." And it increased them only in faith and acceptance.
وَإِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
And [remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease said, "Allāh and His Messenger did not promise us except delusion,"
۞ وَمَن يَقْنُتْ مِنكُنَّ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا نُّؤْتِهَآ أَجْرَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهَا رِزْقًا كَرِيمًا
And whoever of you devoutly obeys Allāh and His Messenger and does righteousness - We will give her her reward twice; and We have prepared for her a noble provision.