وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ وَلَا نَبِىٍّ إِلَّآ إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلْقَى ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فِىٓ أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ فَيَنسَخُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 52
Translations
And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke [or recited], Satan threw into it [some misunderstanding]. But Allāh abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allāh makes precise His verses. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
Transliteration
Wa ma arsalna min qablika min rasoolin wa la nabiyyin illa iza tamanna alqa ash-shaytanu fi umniyyatihi fayansukhu Allahu ma yulqi ash-shaytanu thumma yuhkimu Allahu ayatihi wa Allahu alimun hakimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that every messenger and prophet before Muhammad faced satanic whispers and temptations when they had desires or wishes, but Allah would nullify what Satan cast into their minds and then firmly establish His revelations. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a protective mechanism: Satan attempts to corrupt the message through the prophet's desires, but Allah's knowledge and wisdom ensure the purity of divine revelation, ultimately preventing any falsehood from becoming part of the established shariah.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period as part of Surah Al-Hajj, addressing the broader theme of divine protection of the prophets and their messages. The context relates to reassuring the Prophet Muhammad and believers that despite Satan's constant efforts to introduce doubt and deviation, Allah guarantees the preservation and integrity of His revelation, which is a central concern for the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The concept is related to hadiths about the Prophet's protection from Satan, such as in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet states that every person has a companion from the jinn (a devil) who incites them to evil, and Allah protects the Prophet from his satanic companion. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari contains traditions about how the Quran was protected from alteration and corruption.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that even the most righteous individuals face spiritual struggles and satanic temptations, yet Allah's guidance and truth ultimately prevail when one remains steadfast. It encourages reliance on Allah's wisdom to distinguish between human desires and divine truth, especially when evaluating religious guidance.