وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ قُرْءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّتُنذِرَ أُمَّ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَتُنذِرَ يَوْمَ ٱلْجَمْعِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ فَرِيقٌ فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَفَرِيقٌ فِى ٱلسَّعِيرِ 7
Translations
And thus We have revealed to you an Arabic Qur’ān that you may warn the Mother of Cities [i.e., Makkah] and those around it and warn of the Day of Assembly, about which there is no doubt. A party will be in Paradise and a party in the Blaze.
Transliteration
Wa-kathalika awhayna ilayka Qur'anan AArabiyyan li-tundhira umma al-qura wa-man hawlaha wa-tundhira yawma al-jamAAi la rayba fihi fariqun fi al-jannati wa-fariqun fi al-saAAir
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah reveals to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the Quran in Arabic as a warning to the people of Mecca and those around them, and as a warning about the Day of Judgment which is absolutely certain to occur. On that inevitable Day, humanity will be divided into two groups: one in Paradise and one in the Hellfire. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize that the Arabic language was chosen to make the message clear to the Arabs, while Ibn Kathir stresses that the Day of Judgment's certainty ("la rayba fihi") demands immediate repentance and obedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of the Prophet's mission when the Meccans were rejecting the message. The ayah addresses the primary mission of the Quran and the Prophet: warning humanity of the inevitable Day of Judgment while offering guidance toward righteousness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Day of Judgment will not come until the sun rises from the west' (Sahih Bukhari 3199), affirming the certainty and specific characteristics of the Last Day mentioned in this ayah. Additionally, the hadith emphasizing the Prophet's role as a 'warner and bringer of good tidings' (Sunan Ibn Majah 9) relates to the warning function described here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that the Quran was revealed as a clear, unmistakable warning for all people, and that belief in the certainty of the Day of Judgment should motivate us to seek righteousness and turn away from disobedience. The division of humanity into Paradise and Hellfire is not arbitrary but depends on our choices and response to divine guidance in this world.
Related Ayahs
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?"
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
And those who have responded to their Lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend,
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."
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يُبَشِّرُ ٱللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا ٱلْمَوَدَّةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَّزِدْ لَهُۥ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
It is that of which Allāh gives good tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not ask you for it [i.e., this message] any payment [but] only good will through [i.e., due to] kinship." And whoever commits a good deed - We will increase for him good therein. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Appreciative.