وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا ۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم بَعْدَ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا وَاقٍ 37
Translations
And thus We have revealed it as an Arabic legislation. And if you should follow their inclinations after what has come to you of knowledge, you would not have against Allāh any ally or any protector.
Transliteration
Wa-kadhalika anzalnahu hukman arabiyyan wa-la-in ittaba'ta ahwaa'ahum ba'da ma jaa'aka min al-'ilm ma laka min Allahi min waliyy wa-la waqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah revealed the Qur'an as a judgment (constitution/law) in the Arabic language, making it clear and comprehensible to its primary audience. The second part is a stern warning to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that if he were to follow the desires and opinions of the disbelievers despite receiving divine knowledge, he would have no protector or defender from Allah's punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a warning against abandoning revelation for human whims, though the Prophet's infallibility in matters of religion is established elsewhere in Islamic theology.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan section of Surah Ar-Ra'd, which addresses the Meccan disbelievers' rejection of the Qur'an and their attempts to turn the Prophet away from his message. The broader context involves refutations of polytheism and affirmations of monotheism, with this particular verse reinforcing that the Qur'an's clarity in Arabic should leave no excuse for rejection, and warning against compromising the message.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Jibril (in Sahih Muslim) where the Angel Gabriel asks the Prophet about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan relates thematically to the concept of 'ilm (knowledge) mentioned here. Additionally, hadith regarding the protection of the Qur'an's message (Sahih Bukhari 4701) where the Prophet warned against innovations in religion connects to the warning against following desires.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that possessing divine knowledge carries immense responsibility—we cannot claim ignorance when truth has been made clear to us, and following personal desires or societal pressures over established Islamic knowledge severs us from Allah's protection and support. It remains a timeless reminder that conviction must translate into consistent action aligned with revelation, not compromise for worldly acceptance.
Related Ayahs
لَهُۥ دَعْوَةُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىْءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
To Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with a thing, except as one who stretches his hands toward water [from afar, calling it] to reach his mouth, but it will not reach it [thus]. And the supplication of the disbelievers is not but in error [i.e., futility].
سَوَآءٌ مِّنكُم مَّنْ أَسَرَّ ٱلْقَوْلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِۦ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍۭ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌۢ بِٱلنَّهَارِ
It is the same [to Him] concerning you whether one conceals [his] speech or publicizes it and whether one is hidden by night or conspicuous [among others] by day.
ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعٌ
Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ
It is He who shows you lightning, [causing] fear and aspiration, and generates the heavy clouds.