وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 7
Translations
And We sent not before you, [O Muḥammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message], so ask the people of the message [i.e., former scriptures] if you do not know.
Transliteration
Wa mā arsalnā qablaka illā rijālan nūḥā ilayihim, fas'alū ahla adh-dhikri in kuntum lā ta'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah clarifies that all messengers sent before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were men to whom revelation was sent, not angels. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this addresses the polytheists' objection that a messenger should be an angel rather than human. The verse then commands believers to ask 'the people of remembrance' (Ahl al-Dhikr)—those knowledgeable in scripture and religious understanding—if they are uncertain about matters of faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Anbya (Meccan surah) and responds to the disbelievers' rejection of Muhammad as a messenger based on his humanity. The broader context of the surah affirms the prophetic tradition throughout history and provides evidence for monotheism and resurrection. This ayah specifically counters the logical fallacy that a messenger must be angelic rather than human.
Related Hadiths
The concept of seeking knowledge from scholars is reinforced in a hadith where the Prophet said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, in Surah An-Nahl 16:43, a similar verse states the same message, and classical tafsir traditions connect these for mutual reinforcement.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not hesitate to ask those with knowledge when faced with religious uncertainty, recognizing that prophets were human beings chosen by Allah rather than supernatural beings. This establishes the principle that seeking guidance from knowledgeable scholars ('ulama') is a legitimate and encouraged path to understanding faith.