مَّا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِن قَبْلِكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ وَذُو عِقَابٍ أَلِيمٍ 43
Translations
Nothing is said to you, [O Muḥammad], except what was already said to the messengers before you. Indeed, your Lord is a possessor of forgiveness and a possessor of painful penalty.
Transliteration
Maa yuqaalu laka illaa maa qad qeela lilrrrusuli min qablika, inna rabbaka ladhu maghfiratun wa dhu iqaabin aleem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah reassures Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that the opposition and rejection he faces from the Quraysh is not unprecedented—all previous messengers encountered similar resistance and disbelief from their peoples. Ibn Kathir notes this provides consolation by demonstrating a pattern throughout prophetic history. The verse concludes by reminding that Allah possesses both boundless mercy for the believers and severe punishment for those who persist in rejection, emphasizing divine justice operates on both dimensions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fussilat, a Meccan chapter revealed during the period of intense persecution of the Prophet and early Muslims in Mecca. The context addresses the psychological and emotional toll of facing constant ridicule, mockery, and rejection from the Meccan polytheists, providing divine comfort that this experience aligns with the trials faced by all preceding messengers.
Related Hadiths
The Quran 23:44 contains a related theme: 'Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a people their messenger, they denied him.' Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet said messengers before him were harmed even more severely, reinforcing the message of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing opposition or mockery for their faith can take solace knowing this is part of the established pattern of prophetic history, not a sign of failure or divine displeasure. The ayah teaches that steadfastness in faith despite rejection is meaningful and worthy, as it aligns with the trials of all noble messengers before.
Related Ayahs
فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَاتٍ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِى كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمْرَهَا ۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَحِفْظًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
And He completed them as seven heavens within two days and inspired [i.e., made known] in each heaven its command. And We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps [i.e., stars, for beauty] and as protection. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِ ٱلَّيْلُ وَٱلنَّهَارُ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ ۚ لَا تَسْجُدُوا۟ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allāh, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.
وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَٱسْتَحَبُّوا۟ ٱلْعَمَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَـٰعِقَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
And as for Thamūd, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so the thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for what they used to earn.
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that your god is but one God; so take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness." And woe to those who associate others with Allāh