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
لِّلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ إِنَـٰثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ٱلذُّكُورَ
To Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what He wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males.
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?"
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ ۗ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ
It is Allāh who has sent down the Book in truth and [also] the balance [i.e., justice]. And what will make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near.
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.