وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا 82
Translations
And We send down of the Qur’ān that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.
Transliteration
Wa nunazzilu mina al-Qur'ani ma huwa shifaa'un wa rahmatun lil-mu'mineen, wa la yazidu az-zalimeen illa khasarah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that the Qur'an is a cure (shifaa') and mercy for the believers—healing them spiritually, physically, and morally through its guidance and remembrance of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that while the Qur'an is medicine for the faithful, it increases the disbelievers in loss and wretchedness (khasarah) because they reject its signs and turn away from its guidance, making their hearts harder and their misguidance more severe.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Isra is a Meccan surah addressing the Quraysh during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet (peace be upon him). This ayah contextualizes the Qur'an's fundamental nature as a divine remedy, contrasting the benefits received by believers with the spiritual harm incurred by those who reject it—reinforcing that the Qur'an's effect depends entirely on the listener's receptiveness and faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Indeed, in the Qur'an there is healing for the breasts,' (Sunan Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad). Also: 'The best cure is the Qur'an' (attributed in Islamic tradition, though the exact chain varies).
Themes
Key Lesson
The Qur'an's transformative power is conditional upon sincere belief and receptiveness—for those who open their hearts to it, it brings profound healing and mercy, while for those who stubbornly reject it, it deepens their spiritual loss. This teaches us that faith is an active choice, and our relationship with the Qur'an determines whether it becomes a source of guidance or a reminder of our own rejection.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمُ ٱلْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُۥ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا
Those whom they invoke seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.
قُل لَّوْ كَانَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ يَمْشُونَ مُطْمَئِنِّينَ لَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَكًا رَّسُولًا
Say, "If there were upon the earth angels walking securely, We would have sent down to them from the heaven an angel [as a] messenger."
أَوْ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَعِنَبٍ فَتُفَجِّرَ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ خِلَـٰلَهَا تَفْجِيرًا
Or [until] you have a garden of palm trees and grapes and make rivers gush forth within them in force [and abundance]
إِذًا لَّأَذَقْنَـٰكَ ضِعْفَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ وَضِعْفَ ٱلْمَمَاتِ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيرًا
Then [if you had], We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [after] death. Then you would not find for yourself against Us a helper.