رَفِيعُ ٱلدَّرَجَـٰتِ ذُو ٱلْعَرْشِ يُلْقِى ٱلرُّوحَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ لِيُنذِرَ يَوْمَ ٱلتَّلَاقِ 15
Translations
[He is] the Exalted above [all] degrees, Owner of the Throne; He places the inspiration of His command [i.e., revelation] upon whom He wills of His servants to warn of the Day of Meeting.
Transliteration
Rafee'u ad-darajāti dhū al-'arshi yulqī ar-rūḥa min amrihi 'alā man yashā'u min 'ibādihi liyundhira yawma at-talāqi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's majesty and authority: He is the Most High, Possessor of the Throne, who reveals divine inspiration (the Spirit/Revelation) to whom He wills among His servants for the purpose of warning humanity about the Day of Meeting (Resurrection). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'ar-rūḥ' (the Spirit) refers to Jibrīl (Gabriel) or the revelation itself, emphasizing that prophecy and divine guidance are exclusive prerogatives of Allah granted solely according to His divine wisdom and will.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ghafir, which emphasizes Allah's attributes of forgiveness and majesty. It follows discussion of those who believe in Allah's signs and serves to establish that the divine message comes through chosen messengers whom Allah has specifically selected to convey His message and warn humanity.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4705): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'When Allah intends good for someone, He grants them understanding of the religion.' This relates to the concept of Allah choosing whom to grant understanding and revelation. Also relevant: Muslim (177) regarding the ranks and stations of the Prophet ﷺ and the angels.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that prophethood and divine guidance are exclusive grants from Allah based on His infinite wisdom, not human merit or desire. For modern readers, it emphasizes trusting in the authenticity of the Quranic message while recognizing that understanding and spiritual elevation come directly from Allah's grace.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ذَرُونِىٓ أَقْتُلْ مُوسَىٰ وَلْيَدْعُ رَبَّهُۥٓ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُبَدِّلَ دِينَكُمْ أَوْ أَن يُظْهِرَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْفَسَادَ
And Pharaoh said, "Let me kill Moses and let him call upon his Lord. Indeed, I fear that he will change your religion or that he will cause corruption in the land."
فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَرِحُوا۟ بِمَا عِندَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And when their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they [merely] rejoiced in what they had of knowledge, but they were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
ٱلنَّارُ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا ۖ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ ٱلْعَذَابِ
The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], "Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment."
يَـٰقَوْمِ لَكُمُ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ظَـٰهِرِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَن يَنصُرُنَا مِنۢ بَأْسِ ٱللَّهِ إِن جَآءَنَا ۚ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ مَآ أُرِيكُمْ إِلَّا مَآ أَرَىٰ وَمَآ أَهْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا سَبِيلَ ٱلرَّشَادِ
O my people, sovereignty is yours today, [your being] dominant in the land. But who would protect us from the punishment of Allāh if it came to us?" Pharaoh said, "I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct."