فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا۟ فَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا ۖ إِنْ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ۗ وَإِنَّآ إِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً فَرِحَ بِهَا ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَإِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ كَفُورٌ 48
Translations
But if they turn away - then We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], over them as a guardian; upon you is only [the duty of] notification. And indeed, when We let man taste mercy from Us, he rejoices in it; but if evil afflicts him for what his hands have put forth, then indeed, man is ungrateful.
Transliteration
Fa-in a'radū famā arsalnāka 'alayhim hafīzan. In 'alayka illā al-balāgh. Wa-innā idhā adhaqnā al-insāna minnā rahmatan fariha bihā. Wa-in tusibhum sayyiah bimā qaddamat aydīhim fa-inna al-insāna kafūr.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) sole responsibility is to convey the message of Allah, not to compel belief or guard over people's faith—that responsibility lies with Allah alone. The second part illustrates human ingratitude: when people experience Allah's mercy and blessings, they rejoice in them, but when hardship befalls them as a result of their own deeds, they deny and reject, displaying ingratitude (kufr). Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a timeless truth about human nature and the limits of prophetic responsibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah ash-Shuraa and addresses the broader theme of consultation, guidance, and human response to divine revelation. It provides comfort to the Prophet regarding the rejection he faced from his people, clarifying that his duty is limited to clear communication, not forced acceptance. The context reflects the challenges faced during the Meccan period when disbelievers persistently rejected the message.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of conveying the message: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Convey from me, even if it is one ayah' (Sahih Bukhari). Also relevant: 'Whoever conceals knowledge when it is asked of him, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Resurrection' (Sunan Ibn Majah), emphasizing the duty of clear communication.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that while we have a duty to sincerely convey truth and live righteously, we cannot force others to believe—that is Allah's domain; simultaneously, we must cultivate gratitude for blessings and recognize that hardships often result from our own actions, requiring sincere repentance rather than blame.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّى عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ
And in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allāh. [Say], "That is Allāh, my Lord; upon Him I have relied, and to Him I turn back."
وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن وَلِىٍّ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَتَرَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ يَقُولُونَ هَلْ إِلَىٰ مَرَدٍّ مِّن سَبِيلٍ
And he whom Allāh sends astray - for him there is no protector beyond Him. And you will see the wrongdoers, when they see the punishment, saying, "Is there for return [to the former world] any way?"
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ نَزِدْ لَهُۥ فِى حَرْثِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ ٱلدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِن نَّصِيبٍ
Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter - We increase for him in his harvest [i.e., reward]. And whoever desires the harvest [i.e., benefits] of this world - We give him thereof, but there is not for him in the Hereafter any share.
۞ وَلَوْ بَسَطَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِۦ لَبَغَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِن يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَّا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
And if Allāh had extended [excessively] provision for His servants, they would have committed tyranny throughout the earth. But He sends [it] down in an amount which He wills. Indeed He is, of His servants, Aware and Seeing.