قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ 2
Translations
Arise and warn.
Transliteration
Qum fa-anthir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Allah's direct command to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to rise and warn the people of the punishment of Allah. Ibn Kathir explains that 'qum' (arise) indicates the importance and urgency of the mission, while 'anthir' (warn) refers to delivering the message of monotheism and warning against shirk and disobedience. Al-Tabari emphasizes that this command marks the formal beginning of the Prophet's public preaching mission after the initial private revelation period.
Revelation Context
This ayah comes at the beginning of Surah Al-Muddaththir, which was revealed after Surah Al-'Alaq and marks the transition from the Prophet's private spiritual experiences to his public prophetic mission. The surah begins by addressing the Prophet wrapped in his cloak, likely referring to a state of distress or contemplation, and commands him to commence his public warning to the Quraysh and all of humanity.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that 'Aishah said the first revelation came to the Prophet in his sleep as good visions, and then the love of solitude was bestowed upon him. He used to go to the cave of Hira to worship, and after the command in Surah Al-Muddaththir, he began his public mission. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said: 'I have been sent as a warner and a bringer of good tidings.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that when Allah assigns a responsibility, it demands immediate action and courage, regardless of personal comfort or fear. The lesson for modern Muslims is that conveying the truth of Islam with gentleness and wisdom to others is not optional but a communal duty (fard kifayah) that requires us to step out of our comfort zones.