إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ 12
Translations
Indeed, [incumbent] upon Us is guidance.
Transliteration
Inna alaina lal-huda
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that guidance (al-huda) is entirely upon Allah's shoulders and responsibility. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this as Allah's promise to guide those who seek guidance and desire it, emphasizing that true guidance is a divine gift rather than something humans can achieve through their own efforts alone. The ayah reassures believers that Allah has taken upon Himself the responsibility of guidance, following the mention of the two paths (good and evil) in the preceding verses.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period and addresses the fundamental choice between two paths: the path of righteousness and the path of corruption. Verse 12 comes within the context of Surah Al-Layl's discussion of human nature and the two distinct paths available to humanity, emphasizing Allah's role in providing guidance as an essential part of His divine responsibility to His creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'There is no disease that Allah has sent down except that He has also sent down its cure' (Sahih Bukhari 5678), reflecting the broader Islamic principle that Allah provides remedies and guidance for all challenges. Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide him' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2140) directly relates to this ayah's theme of Allah's guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to trust in Allah's guidance while recognizing that seeking guidance requires sincere effort and receptiveness from the individual; it encourages reliance on Allah while maintaining personal accountability for choosing the right path.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۙ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muḥammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
مَّنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَحْمِلُ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وِزْرًا
Whoever turns away from it - then indeed, he will bear on the Day of Resurrection a burden [i.e., great sin],
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
قُلْ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَآئِكُم مَّن يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى لِلْحَقِّ ۗ أَفَمَن يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَن يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّن لَّا يَهِدِّىٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُهْدَىٰ ۖ فَمَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
Say, "Are there of your 'partners' any who guides to the truth?" Say, "Allāh guides to the truth. So is He who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed or he who guides not unless he is guided? Then what is [wrong] with you - how do you judge?"