إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُۥ وَقُرْءَانَهُۥ 17
Translations
Indeed, upon Us is its collection [in your heart] and [to make possible] its recitation.
Transliteration
Inna alaynaajamahu wa quraanahu
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah assures the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that it is His responsibility to gather the Qur'an in the Prophet's heart and to enable him to recite it perfectly. This ayah responds to the Prophet's concern about forgetting the verses revealed to him, as he was anxious to memorize them before Gabriel completed the revelation. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this divine promise guarantees the preservation of the Qur'an through the Prophet's memory and subsequent transmission, establishing the foundation for the Qur'an's miraculous preservation throughout history.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qiyamah, a Meccan chapter focused on the reality of the Day of Resurrection. The context directly addresses the Prophet's concern during the revelation process—he would move his lips hastily trying to memorize each verse as Gabriel recited it. This ayah reassures him that Allah has taken upon Himself the responsibility of preserving and facilitating the memorization of the Qur'an.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4695): Narrated by 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas that the Prophet said regarding this ayah that Allah promised to preserve the Qur'an in his heart and enable its recitation. Additionally, the general principle is supported by numerous hadiths about the virtue of memorizing (hafiz) the Qur'an, such as those in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's statement about those who memorize the Qur'an being among the people of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the preservation of divine guidance is Allah's responsibility, not dependent on human anxiety or effort alone, offering reassurance that faith and trust in Allah's promises are foundational to spiritual success. It also emphasizes that memorizing and preserving the Qur'an is a blessed act undertaken with Allah's support, inspiring modern Muslims to engage with the Qur'an as a sacred trust.