كِتَـٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 2
Translations
[This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muḥammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers.
Transliteration
Kitabun unzila ilayka fala yakun fi sadrika harajun minhu litundhira bihi wa dhikra lil-mu'mineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), reassuring him that the Qur'an revealed to him should cause no hesitation or distress in his heart regarding its message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah is commanding the Prophet to convey the Qur'an with confidence, as it serves two essential purposes: to warn humanity of the consequences of disbelief and to serve as a reminder and guidance for the believers. The phrase 'haraja' (constraint/distress) refers to any doubt or apprehension about the truthfulness of the revelation or its efficacy.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears at the opening of Surah Al-A'raf, which is a Meccan surah dealing with fundamental Islamic beliefs and narratives of past prophets. The context addresses the Prophet's early mission during a period of intense opposition from the Quraysh, encouraging him to persevere without doubt in delivering Allah's message despite societal resistance and rejection.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3209) relates to the Prophet's confidence in conveying the message: 'The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.' Additionally, Tirmidhi (2907) narrates that the Prophet was commanded to convey the message clearly: 'Convey from me, even if it is one ayah.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should approach the Qur'an with complete confidence in its truth and purpose, free from doubt or hesitation, and recognize their responsibility to convey its message with conviction. This ayah also teaches that confidence in divine guidance dispels anxiety, making it relevant for anyone facing opposition while upholding truth.
Related Ayahs
الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
Alif, Lām, Rā. These are the verses of the clear Book.
۞ وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
And it will be said to those who feared Allāh, "What did your Lord send down?" They will say, "[That which is] good." For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous -
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, who has sent down upon His Servant [Muḥammad (ﷺ)] the Book and has not made therein any deviance.
قُلْ نَزَّلَهُۥ رُوحُ ٱلْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "The Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."