وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيهِم مُّنذِرِينَ 72
Translations
And We had already sent among them warners.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad arsalnā fīhim mundhirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah sent warners (prophets and messengers) among the disbelieving peoples to convey His message and warn them of the consequences of rejection. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates Allah's justice in sending clear guidance before punishment, ensuring that no nation has an excuse for disbelief. The plural 'mundhirīn' (warners) emphasizes that Allah continuously sent messengers throughout history to guide humanity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's discussion of the fate of disbelieving nations. It reinforces the Quranic theme that Allah's punishment only comes after clear warning through His messengers, establishing divine justice and the accountability of those who reject the message despite being warned.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'No people shall be punished until they have been sent a messenger' (Sunan Ibn Majah and Musnad Ahmad). This directly supports the principle mentioned in this ayah that warnings precede punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's mercy precedes His wrath—He sends clear warnings and guidance before holding people accountable. For believers today, it reinforces the importance of conveying the message of Islam to others, as we are part of the tradition of warners established throughout history.
Related Ayahs
كَذَٰلِكَ سَلَكْنَـٰهُ فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Thus have We inserted it [i.e., disbelief] into the hearts of the criminals.
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Rather, we have been deprived."
وَٱلَّذِينَ سَعَوْ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا مُعَـٰجِزِينَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مِّن رِّجْزٍ أَلِيمٌ
But those who strive against Our verses [seeking] to cause failure - for them will be a painful punishment of foul nature.
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.