Al-Ma'idah · Ayah 67

۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 67

Translations

O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allāh will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.

Transliteration

Ya ayyuha ar-rasulu balligh ma unzila ilayka min rabbika wa-in lam taf'al fama ballahta risalatahu wa-allahu ya'simuka mina an-nas inna allaha la yahdee al-qawma al-kafirin

Tafsir (Explanation)

Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to convey the complete message revealed to him from his Lord, emphasizing that failure to do so would mean he has not truly fulfilled his prophetic mission. The ayah assures the Prophet of divine protection from harm by people, while affirming that Allah does not guide disbelievers. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this verse emphasizes the Prophet's obligation to deliver all divine guidance without omission or fear, establishing the foundational principle that a messenger's duty is complete and comprehensive conveyance.

Revelation Context

This ayah was revealed in the final period of the Prophet's life, likely during the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wida'), and is understood by many scholars to relate to the Prophet's obligation to communicate all divine revelations. The broader context of Surah Al-Ma'idah (revealed in Madinah) emphasizes religious law, obligations, and the completion of the Islamic message.

Related Hadiths

The hadith of Ghadir Khumm (recorded in multiple sources including Tirmidhi and others) is contextually related, as it demonstrates the Prophet's fulfillment of this command to convey important guidance. Additionally, the Prophet's Farewell Sermon (Khutbat al-Wida') exemplifies this ayah's directive to communicate the complete message.

Themes

Divine ObligationProphetic Duty and ResponsibilityDivine ProtectionComplete Message DeliveryRejection of DisbeliefTrust in Allah

Key Lesson

This ayah reminds believers that conveying truth fully and without compromise is a sacred obligation, and that those who undertake this responsibility can trust in Allah's protection. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of integrity in religious practice and the courage needed to communicate faith principles despite potential opposition.

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Related Ayahs

5:21Al-Ma'idah

يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْضَ ٱلْمُقَدَّسَةَ ٱلَّتِى كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ

O my people, enter the blessed land [i.e., Palestine] which Allāh has assigned to you and do not turn back [from fighting in Allāh's cause] and [thus] become losers."

5:23Al-Ma'idah

قَالَ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا ٱدْخُلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَـٰلِبُونَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوٓا۟ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Said two men from those who feared [to disobey] upon whom Allāh had bestowed favor, "Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant. And upon Allāh rely, if you should be believers."

5:49Al-Ma'idah

وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَـٰسِقُونَ

And judge, [O Muḥammad], between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allāh has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allāh only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.

5:1Al-Ma'idah

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعُقُودِ ۚ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم بَهِيمَةُ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّى ٱلصَّيْدِ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ

O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts. Lawful for you are the animals of grazing livestock except for that which is recited to you [in this Qur’ān] - hunting not being permitted while you are in the state of iḥrām. Indeed, Allāh ordains what He intends.