أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَبِهُدَىٰهُمُ ٱقْتَدِهْ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ۖ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 90
Translations
Those are the ones whom Allāh has guided, so from their guidance take an example. Say, "I ask of you for it [i.e., this message] no payment. It is not but a reminder for the worlds."
Transliteration
Ulaa'ika allatheena hadaa Allahu fabihudaahum iqtadih. Qul laa as'alukum 'alayhi ajran in huwa illa dhikraa lilal-'aalameen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to follow the guidance of the previous prophets mentioned in the preceding verses (Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon), as they were guided by Allah. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the Prophet's path was established upon the same principles of monotheism and truth that guided all the messengers before him. The ayah further instructs the Prophet to clarify that he seeks no worldly reward for his message, as the Quran itself is merely a reminder for all humanity—highlighting the purely spiritual nature of his prophetic mission.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-An'am during a period when the Prophet faced intense opposition from Quraysh who accused him of seeking wealth or leadership through his message. The ayah comes after a comprehensive listing of noble prophets, emphasizing the continuity of divine guidance throughout history and refuting accusations that the Prophet's motivation was material gain.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those from whom you benefit and who benefit others' (related to the concept of guidance and its transmission). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet emphasized: 'I have not been sent except as a mercy to the worlds,' reflecting the universal nature of the reminder mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that the path of truth transcends individual personalities and is rooted in principles established by all of Allah's messengers throughout history. True religious conviction must be driven by sincere devotion to Allah's guidance rather than personal gain, and the primary purpose of faith is to serve as a reminder and guidance for all of humanity.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ
And We have already sent [messengers] to nations before you, [O Muḥammad]; then We seized them with poverty and hardship that perhaps they might humble themselves [to Us].
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِىَ رَبُّكَ أَوْ يَأْتِىَ بَعْضُ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكَ ۗ يَوْمَ يَأْتِى بَعْضُ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكَ لَا يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَـٰنُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ ءَامَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِىٓ إِيمَـٰنِهَا خَيْرًا ۗ قُلِ ٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مُنتَظِرُونَ
Do they [then] wait for anything except that the angels should come to them or your Lord should come or that there come some of the signs of your Lord? The Day that some of the signs of your Lord will come no soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good. Say, "Wait. Indeed, we [also] are waiting."
فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ۚ وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
So the people that committed wrong were eliminated. And praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And if Allāh should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good - then He is over all things competent.