قُل لَّآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ 50
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allāh or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?"
Transliteration
Qul lā aqulu lakum 'indi khazā'inu Allāhi wa lā a'lamu al-ghayba wa lā aqulu lakum innī malakun. In attabi'u illā mā yūhā ilayya. Qul hal yastawī al-a'mā wa al-basīr. Afalā tatafakkarūn?
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to clarify to the disbelievers that he does not claim to possess the treasures of Allah, knowledge of the unseen, or to be an angel—rather, he is a human messenger who follows only what has been revealed to him. The ayah then presents an analogy comparing the blind and the sighted to illustrate the difference between those who accept guidance and those who reject it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah refutes false claims attributed to the Prophet and establishes the boundaries of his knowledge and authority, while also appealing to human reason (tafakkur) to recognize the distinction between guidance and misguidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the period when the Quraysh were making various accusations against the Prophet, including claims that he possessed hidden treasures or claimed to know the unseen. The surah Al-An'am emphasizes tawhid (monotheism) and addresses the polytheists' misconceptions about the nature of prophethood.
Related Hadiths
In Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet said: 'I am not different from you except that the revelation comes to me.' This reinforces the message of 6:50 that the Prophet's distinction lies solely in receiving revelation, not in possessing superhuman powers. Additionally, in Sunan Ibn Majah, it is recorded that 'The most truthful of the truthful is he who says: I do not know what I do not know,' reflecting the epistemological humility taught in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to be humble about the limits of human knowledge and to recognize that true guidance comes through revelation, not through personal claims or assumptions. It also invites us to use our intellect ('aql) to distinguish between truth and falsehood, encouraging a rational yet spiritually grounded approach to faith.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ وَٱللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ
Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, "By Allāh, our Lord, we were not those who associated."
ثُمَّ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تَمَامًا عَلَى ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَّعَلَّهُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Then We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good [i.e., Moses] and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in the meeting with their Lord they would believe.
قُلْ إِنَّنِى هَدَىٰنِى رَبِّىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "Indeed, my Lord has guided me to a straight path - a correct religion - the way of Abraham, inclining toward truth. And he was not among those who associated others with Allāh."
وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُوا۟ وَأُوذُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰهُمْ نَصْرُنَا ۚ وَلَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكَ مِن نَّبَإِى۟ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
And certainly were messengers denied before you, but they were patient over the denial, and they were harmed until Our victory came to them. And none can alter the words [i.e., decrees] of Allāh. And there has certainly come to you some information about the [previous] messengers.