إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ 125
Translations
Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
Transliteration
Innī lakum rasūlun amīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents the statement of Prophet Nuh (Noah) to his people, declaring his role as a trustworthy messenger sent by Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that the word 'amīn' (trustworthy/faithful) is a key characteristic that distinguishes true messengers from false claimants, highlighting Nuh's integrity and fidelity in conveying Allah's message despite centuries of rejection. The phrase encapsulates the essential claim every messenger made: divine appointment combined with personal righteousness and reliability.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which presents the stories of multiple messengers (Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shu'ayb, and Musa) to console Prophet Muhammad during persecution in Mecca. Nuh's statement serves as the first of a recurring refrain throughout the surah, demonstrating the consistent message and credibility all prophets presented to their nations, establishing a pattern of prophetic testimony across generations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'The most hated of people to Allah are three: a man who violates the sacred months... and a man who drives out the family of a prophet from the land of Islam and denies his trustworthiness (amānah).' (Sunan Ibn Majah) This hadith reinforces the value of trustworthiness in the prophetic mission.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true leadership and influence derive from trustworthiness and integrity, not from power or coercion—a principle applicable in all roles of responsibility. It also reminds us that rejection of righteous truth-bearers reflects the people's spiritual condition, not the deficiency of the message or messenger.