قُلْ إِن ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَآ أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِى ۖ وَإِنِ ٱهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِىٓ إِلَىَّ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ 50
Translations
Say, "If I should err, I would only err against myself. But if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. Indeed, He is Hearing and near."
Transliteration
Qul in dalalthu fa-innama adillu 'ala nafsi wa-in ihtadaytu fa-bima yuhi ilayya rabbi innahu sami'un qariib
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that if he were to go astray, the harm would only befall himself, while his guidance comes from the revelation his Lord sends to him. This ayah emphasizes the Prophet's dependence on divine revelation and absolves him of responsibility for those who reject the message, while establishing that his misguidance would be a personal matter. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates the Prophet's honesty and humility, as he attributes all guidance solely to Allah's revelation rather than claiming personal wisdom.
Revelation Context
Surah Saba is a Meccan chapter dealing with themes of monotheism, resurrection, and the challenge to the disbelievers. This ayah appears in a section addressing the Prophet's role as a messenger and his relationship with his Lord, particularly emphasizing that guidance is entirely from Allah. The context reflects the pressures the Prophet faced from Meccan opposition and his unwavering reliance on divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The principle relates to Hadith Qudsi where Allah says 'I am as My servant thinks of Me' (Sahih Bukhari 7405), emphasizing reliance on Allah. Also relevant is the hadith about the Prophet's du'a: 'O Allah, guide me among those You have guided' (Sunan Ibn Majah 3822), reflecting constant dependence on divine guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true guidance comes from God alone, not from human intellect or personal desires, and that each person bears responsibility for their own choices. It also demonstrates the Prophet's humility and honesty—a model for leaders and teachers to attribute success to God's help while remaining accountable for their duties.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ
Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.
تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allāh or says, "It has been inspired to me," while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, "I will reveal [something] like what Allāh revealed." And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allāh other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant."