وَكَذَّبَ بِهِۦ قَوْمُكَ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ 66
Translations
But your people have denied it while it is the truth. Say, "I am not over you a manager [i.e., authority]."
Transliteration
Wa kadhdhaba bihi qawmuka wa huwa al-haqq. Qul lasta 'alaikum bi-wakil.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the Prophet Muhammad, informing him that his people denied the Quran despite it being the truth. The Prophet is then commanded to respond by clarifying that he is not a guardian or caretaker over them—he has delivered the message, and their acceptance or rejection is their own responsibility. This ayah emphasizes the Prophet's role as a messenger (muballigh) rather than a compeller of faith, a distinction highlighted by classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the Meccan period when the Quraysh persistently rejected the Prophet's message. It reflects the broader thematic context of Surah Al-An'am, which addresses rejection of monotheism and divine signs. The ayah comes in a section dealing with the disbelievers' denial despite clear evidence, reinforcing the Prophet's duty to convey the message without forcing belief.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3:4697) records the Prophet saying, 'The best jihad is a word of justice before a tyrant ruler,' reflecting the theme of delivering truth despite opposition. Additionally, Surah 88:21-22 complements this: 'So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder. You are not over them a manager.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that our responsibility is to convey truth with sincerity and wisdom, not to force others to believe; ultimately, people's hearts and choices rest with Allah. It liberates the believer from the burden of making others accept faith, redirecting focus toward faithful propagation of the message.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ سَمْعَكُمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرَكُمْ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُم مَّنْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِهِ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ثُمَّ هُمْ يَصْدِفُونَ
Say, "Have you considered: if Allāh should take away your hearing and your sight and set a seal upon your hearts, which deity other than Allāh could bring them [back] to you?" Look how We diversify the verses; then they [still] turn away.
۞ إِنَّمَا يَسْتَجِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ ۘ وَٱلْمَوْتَىٰ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
Only those who hear will respond. But the dead - Allāh will resurrect them; then to Him they will be returned.
قُلْ هَلُمَّ شُهَدَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَرَّمَ هَـٰذَا ۖ فَإِن شَهِدُوا۟ فَلَا تَشْهَدْ مَعَهُمْ ۚ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَهُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Bring forward your witnesses who will testify that Allāh has prohibited this." And if they testify, do not testify with them. And do not follow the desires of those who deny Our verses and those who do not believe in the Hereafter, while they equate [others] with their Lord.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ فَالِقُ ٱلْحَبِّ وَٱلنَّوَىٰ ۖ يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتِ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
Indeed, Allāh is the cleaver of grain and date seeds. He brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living. That is Allāh; so how are you deluded?