Surah Al-An"aam 6:48 - Tafsir & Translation
Read the Arabic text, translation, and detailed commentary for Surah Al-An"aam, Ayah 48
Arabic Text
وَمَا نُرۡسِلُ الۡمُرۡسَلِيۡنَ اِلَّا مُبَشِّرِيۡنَ وَمُنۡذِرِيۡنَۚ فَمَنۡ اٰمَنَ وَاَصۡلَحَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُوۡنَ
Transliteration
Wama nursilu almursaleena illamubashshireena wamunthireena faman amana waaslahafala khawfun AAalayhim wala hum yahzanoon
Verse Definition & Meaning
Meaning & Definition
Al-An'am 6:48, stating 'Wama nursilu almursaleena illa mubashshireena wamundhireena faman amana waaslaha fala khawfun alayhim wala hum yahzanoon' (And We send not the messengers except as bearers of glad tidings and warners. So whoever believes and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve), provides the essential definition of prophetic mission and the divine promise of security for believers according to authentic Islamic scholarship. This verse follows the previous discussion about divine punishment and justice, now clarifying the precise role and limitations of messengers in divine guidance. The opening phrase 'Wama nursilu almursaleena illa' (We send not the messengers except) establishes the exclusive and limited nature of prophetic mission - messengers are sent for specific purposes only, not for the miraculous demonstrations that people often demand. Classical tafsir explains that 'mubashshireena' (bearers of glad tidings) refers to the messengers' role in bringing hope, comfort, and promises of divine reward to those who accept guidance and live righteously. The complementary term 'mundhireena' (warners) describes their responsibility to alert people about the consequences of rejecting truth and engaging in wrongdoing. Ibn Kathir notes that this dual function - hope and warning - represents the complete prophetic responsibility: encouraging virtue through positive motivation while discouraging vice through awareness of negative consequences. The verse emphasizes that messengers' mission is limited to conveying divine guidance, not forcing belief or performing supernatural feats on demand - they are human beings chosen to deliver divine messages, not magical beings expected to override human free will. The conditional statement 'faman amana waaslaha' (whoever believes and reforms) establishes the requirements for receiving divine promises: both internal faith ('amana') and external righteous conduct ('aslaha'), indicating that belief alone without corresponding behavioral change is insufficient. The dual promise 'fala khawfun alayhim wala hum yahzanoon' (no fear concerning them nor will they grieve) encompasses complete psychological and spiritual security - 'la khawf' (no fear) refers to freedom from anxiety about the future, while 'la hum yahzanoon' (nor will they grieve) refers to freedom from regret about the past or sorrow about present circumstances. This verse teaches that the prophetic institution operates through moral persuasion rather than supernatural coercion, respecting human dignity and freedom of choice while providing clear guidance about consequences. The promise of psychological peace to believers demonstrates that faith and righteous conduct create internal security that transcends external circumstances - believers need not fear divine punishment in the afterlife nor grieve over worldly losses because their spiritual condition guarantees divine protection and ultimate success. This clear definition of prophetic mission counters both excessive expectations (demanding miracles) and inadequate appreciation (dismissing prophetic guidance) of messengers, establishing that their human nature and limited role do not diminish the importance and sufficiency of their divine message for human guidance and salvation.
This definition is based on classical Islamic scholarship and authentic interpretations from recognized scholars.
Tafsir & Context
Detailed tafsir and context for Surah Al-An"aam Ayah 48 will be available soon.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Surah Al-An"aam Ayah 48
Find answers to common questions about the meaning, interpretation, and significance of this verse in Islamic teachings and daily life.
❓What does 'Wama nursilu almursaleena illa mubashshireena wamundhireena' mean in Al-An'am 6:48?
This phrase translates to 'And We send not the messengers except as bearers of glad tidings and warners.' It defines the exclusive and limited nature of prophetic mission - messengers are sent for specific purposes only: bringing hope through good news to the righteous and warnings about consequences to those who reject guidance. They are not sent to perform miraculous demonstrations on demand or force belief.
❓What is the primary mission of messengers according to this verse?
The primary mission of messengers is dual: 'mubashshireena' (bearers of glad tidings) - bringing hope, comfort, and promises of divine reward to those who accept guidance; and 'mundhireena' (warners) - alerting people about consequences of rejecting truth. This represents complete prophetic responsibility through moral persuasion, not supernatural coercion, respecting human dignity and freedom of choice.
❓Why do messengers bring both good news and warnings instead of just one?
Messengers bring both good news and warnings because complete guidance requires both positive motivation and awareness of negative consequences. Good tidings encourage virtue and righteous conduct, while warnings discourage vice and wrongdoing. This dual approach addresses different human psychological needs and provides balanced guidance that appeals to both hope and caution, ensuring comprehensive moral education.
❓What is promised to those who believe and reform according to this verse?
The verse promises 'fala khawfun alayhim wala hum yahzanoon' (no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve) to those who both believe and reform. This encompasses complete psychological and spiritual security: 'la khawf' means freedom from anxiety about the future, while 'la yahzanoon' means freedom from regret about the past or sorrow about present circumstances. Both internal faith and external righteous conduct are required.
❓How does this verse limit the function and expectations of prophetic mission?
The verse limits prophetic function by stating messengers are sent 'only' for guidance (glad tidings and warnings), not for supernatural demonstrations or forcing belief. This counters excessive expectations of miraculous performances and establishes that messengers are human beings chosen to deliver divine messages, not magical beings expected to override human free will. Their mission operates through moral persuasion, not supernatural coercion.
❓What does 'no fear' and 'no grief' mean for believers in practical terms?
'No fear' (la khawf) means believers need not fear divine punishment in the afterlife or anxiety about future circumstances because their spiritual condition guarantees divine protection. 'No grief' (la yahzanoon) means freedom from regret about past mistakes or sorrow over worldly losses. This creates internal security that transcends external circumstances, providing psychological peace through faith and righteous conduct.
❓Why don't messengers perform the miraculous feats that people demand?
Messengers don't perform demanded miracles because their mission is limited to conveying divine guidance through moral persuasion, not supernatural coercion. The verse establishes that prophetic responsibility is 'only' guidance through good tidings and warnings. Forcing belief through miraculous displays would violate human free will and dignity. True faith must come through rational acceptance of guidance, not compulsion through supernatural demonstrations.
❓How does belief combined with reform ensure divine protection and peace?
Belief ('amana') provides internal spiritual foundation while reform ('aslaha') demonstrates external behavioral change. Together, they create a complete spiritual condition that qualifies for divine promises. This combination ensures divine protection because it represents genuine transformation - both heart and conduct aligned with divine guidance - creating the spiritual state that merits divine security and peace in both this life and the hereafter.
❓How does this verse connect to the broader themes of Surah Al-An'am?
Al-An'am 6:48 connects to the surah's themes about divine sovereignty and human responsibility by clarifying the role of messengers in divine guidance system. After discussing divine justice and punishment, this verse explains how divine mercy operates through prophetic guidance. It reinforces that Allah provides clear guidance through messengers while maintaining human freedom of choice, demonstrating divine wisdom in balancing guidance with human responsibility.
❓What practical lessons does this verse offer about prophetic mission and human response?
This verse teaches that prophetic mission operates through balanced guidance - hope and warning - rather than compulsion or spectacular displays. For followers, it emphasizes that both belief and behavioral reform are necessary for spiritual security. It provides realistic expectations of prophetic function while offering genuine hope for those who respond positively. The verse demonstrates that divine guidance respects human dignity while providing sufficient motivation for righteous living.
Translations & Commentary
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