قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ 108
Translations
Say, "O mankind, the truth has come to you from your Lord, so whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul, and whoever goes astray only goes astray [in violation] against it. And I am not over you a manager."
Transliteration
Qul ya ayyuha an-nasu qad jaakum al-haqqu min rabbikum faman ihtada fa-innama yahtadi li-nafsihi wa-man dalla fa-innama yadillu alayha wa-ma ana alaikum bi-wakil
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to announce to all people that the truth has come to them from their Lord, and that the choice between guidance and misguidance is theirs alone. Al-Qurtubi notes that whoever is guided benefits himself through obedience to Allah, while whoever goes astray harms only himself, emphasizing individual accountability. The Prophet is not a guardian over them—he has delivered the message, and the ultimate responsibility for accepting or rejecting it rests with each person.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Yunus, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes Allah's signs, the inevitability of judgment, and the Prophet's role as a warner. It reflects the Meccan period's focus on the fundamental message of tawhid (monotheism) and free will versus predestination, addressing the Quraysh's resistance to the message.
Related Hadiths
The hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Masud in Sahih Muslim states that the Prophet said: 'Each of you is responsible, and each of you will be asked about those under your care,' emphasizing personal accountability. Similarly, the Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Muslim conveys Allah's message: 'O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Every individual bears sole responsibility for their spiritual choices and their consequences; we cannot blame others or external circumstances for our deviation from truth. This ayah calls us to recognize that guidance is a personal journey—we must actively seek and embrace truth, knowing that our success or failure ultimately benefits or harms only ourselves.