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
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتَىٰكُمْ عَذَابُ ٱللَّهِ بَغْتَةً أَوْ جَهْرَةً هَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
Say, "Have you considered: if the punishment of Allāh should come to you unexpectedly or manifestly, will any be destroyed but the wrongdoing people?"
وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًا ۚ وَكُلًّا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot - and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۚ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوكَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
And among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, "This is not but legends of the former peoples."
قُلْ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَكْبَرُ شَهَـٰدَةً ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ شَهِيدٌۢ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۚ وَأُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لِأُنذِرَكُم بِهِۦ وَمَنۢ بَلَغَ ۚ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً أُخْرَىٰ ۚ قُل لَّآ أَشْهَدُ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَإِنَّنِى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ
Say, "What thing is greatest in testimony?" Say, "Allāh is witness between me and you. And this Qur’ān was revealed to me that I may warn you thereby and whomever it reaches. Do you [truly] testify that with Allāh there are other deities?" Say, "I will not testify [with you]." Say, "Indeed, He is but one God, and indeed, I am free of what you associate [with Him]."