The Dual Role of Messengers as Bearers of Glad Tidings and Warners, and the Varied Human Responses to Divine Revelation

Al-An'am — Verses 48–58 | Explore this Quran theme on Muallim

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۖ فَمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ٤٨

And We send not the Messengers but as givers of glad tidings and as warners. So whosoever believes and does righteous good deeds, upon such shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve.

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
And We send not the Messengers
إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۖ
but as givers of glad tidings and as warners.
فَمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ
So whosoever believes and does righteous good deeds,
فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ
upon such shall come no fear,
وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
nor shall they grieve.

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَمَسُّهُمُ الْعَذَابُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ ٤٩

But those who reject Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), the torment will touch them for their disbelief (and for their belying the Message of Muhammad SAW). [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi].

وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا
But those who reject Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)
يَمَسُّهُمُ الْعَذَابُ
the torment will touch them
بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ
for their disbelief (and for their belying the Message of Muhammad SAW)

قُل لَّا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْبَصِيرُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ٥٠

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I don't tell you that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor (that) I know the unseen; nor I tell you that I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me by inspiration." Say: "Are the blind and the one who sees equal? will you not then take thought?"

قُل لَّا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ
Say (O Muhammad SAW): 'I don't tell you that
عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ
with me are the treasures of Allah,
وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ
nor (that) I know the unseen;
وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ ۖ
nor I tell you that I am an angel.
إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ ۚ
I but follow what is revealed to me by inspiration.'
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْبَصِيرُ ۚ
Say: 'Are the blind and the one who sees equal?
أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
will you not then take thought?'

وَأَنذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَن يُحْشَرُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۙ لَيْسَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ ٥١

And warn therewith (the Quran) those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, when there will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him, so that they may fear Allah and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from committing sins and by doing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained).

وَأَنذِرْ بِهِ
And warn therewith (the Quran)
الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ
those who fear
أَن يُحْشَرُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۙ
that they will be gathered before their Lord
لَيْسَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ
when there will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him
لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
so that they may fear Allah and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from committing sins and by doing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)

وَلَا تَطْرُدِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ ۖ مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ ٥٢

And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon seeking His Face. You are accountable for them in nothing, and they are accountable for you in nothing, that you may turn them away, and thus become of the Zalimun (unjust).

وَلَا تَطْرُدِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم
And turn not away those who invoke their Lord
بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ
morning and afternoon
يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ ۖ
seeking His Face.
مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ
You are accountable for them in nothing,
وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ
and they are accountable for you in nothing,
فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
that you may turn them away, and thus become of the Zalimun (unjust).

وَكَذَٰلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولُوا أَهَٰؤُلَاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَا ۗ أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّاكِرِينَ ٥٣

Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: "Is it these (poor believers) that Allah has favoured from amongst us?" Does not Allah know best those who are grateful?

وَكَذَٰلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ
Thus We have tried some of them with others
لِّيَقُولُوا
that they might say:
أَهَٰؤُلَاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَا ۗ
"Is it these (poor believers) that Allah has favoured from amongst us?"
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّاكِرِينَ
Does not Allah know best those who are grateful?

وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ٥٤

When those who believe in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) come to you, say: "Salamun 'Alaikum" (peace be on you); your Lord has written Mercy for Himself, so that, if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allah), then surely, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا
When those who believe in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) come to you,
فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ
say: 'Salamun 'Alaikum' (peace be on you);
كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ ۖ
your Lord has written Mercy for Himself,
أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ
so that, if any of you does evil in ignorance,
ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ
and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allah),
فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
then surely, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ ٥٥

And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ
And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail,
وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners) may become manifest.

قُلْ إِنِّي نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ قُل لَّا أَتَّبِعُ أَهْوَاءَكُمْ ۙ قَدْ ضَلَلْتُ إِذًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ ٥٦

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I have been forbidden to worship those whom you invoke (worship) besides Allah." Say: "I will not follow your vain desires. If I did, I would go astray, and I would not be one of the rightly guided."

قُلْ إِنِّي نُهِيتُ
Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I have been forbidden
أَنْ أَعْبُدَ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ
to worship those whom you invoke (worship) besides Allah."
قُل
Say:
لَّا أَتَّبِعُ أَهْوَاءَكُمْ ۙ
"I will not follow your vain desires.
قَدْ ضَلَلْتُ إِذًا
If I did, I would go astray,
وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ
and I would not be one of the rightly guided."

قُلْ إِنِّي عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّي وَكَذَّبْتُم بِهِ ۚ مَا عِندِي مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ يَقُصُّ الْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْفَاصِلِينَ ٥٧

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I am on clear proof from my Lord (Islamic Monotheism), but you deny (the truth that has come to me from Allah). I have not gotten what you are asking for impatiently (the torment). The decision is only for Allah, He declares the truth, and He is the Best of judges."

قُلْ إِنِّي عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّي
Say (O Muhammad SAW): 'I am on clear proof from my Lord (Islamic Monotheism),
وَكَذَّبْتُم بِهِ ۚ
but you deny (the truth that has come to me from Allah).
مَا عِندِي مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِ ۚ
I have not gotten what you are asking for impatiently (the torment).
إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ
The decision is only for Allah,
يَقُصُّ الْحَقَّ ۖ
He declares the truth,
وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْفَاصِلِينَ
and He is the Best of judges.

قُل لَّوْ أَنَّ عِندِي مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِ لَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالظَّالِمِينَ ٥٨

Say: "If I had that which you are asking for impatiently (the torment), the matter would have been settled at once between me and you, but Allah knows best the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.)."

قُل لَّوْ أَنَّ عِندِي مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِ
Say: 'If I had that which you are asking for impatiently (the torment),
لَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۗ
the matter would have been settled at once between me and you,
وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالظَّالِمِينَ
but Allah knows best the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).