أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ رَبِّى وَأَنَا۠ لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ أَمِينٌ 68
Translations
I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am to you a trustworthy adviser.
Transliteration
Uballighukum risalati rabbi wa ana lakum nasihun ameen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) declares to his people that he is faithfully conveying the message of his Lord and that he is a sincere and trustworthy advisor to them. This statement encapsulates the essence of the prophetic mission—to communicate divine guidance with complete honesty and genuine concern for the spiritual welfare of the recipients. Classical exegetes like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Nuh's assertion of being 'nasih' (sincere advisor) and 'ameen' (trustworthy) reflects the qualities required of all messengers in fulfilling their divine responsibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-A'raf, which details the stories of various prophets and their peoples. Ayah 7:68 appears in the account of Prophet Nuh's preaching to his community for 950 years. The broader context shows Nuh responding to his people's rejection and mockery, reaffirming his commitment to his mission despite their disbelief. This reflects the Meccan period's emphasis on prophetic patience and perseverance.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself emphasizes this theme in 26:125 where Nuh says similar words. A related hadith from Sahih Bukhari (Book of Knowledge) discusses the importance of trustworthiness in conveying knowledge, echoing the quality of 'amanah' mentioned here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that conveying truth requires both authenticity ('nasihah'—sincere advice) and reliability ('amanah'—trustworthiness), reminding believers that integrity in communication and genuine concern for others' welfare are fundamental to fulfilling any responsibility entrusted to us by Allah.