Surah 42

Surah 42:51

"It is not (fitting) for any human being that God should speak to him, except (by) inspiration, or from behind a veil, or (that) He should send a messenger and he inspire by His permission whatever He pleases. Surely He is most high, wise."
How the Revelation comes down Verses 42:51-53
Show Full Scripture Context (42:51-53) — 3 Verses
Verse 51

۞وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحۡيًا أَوۡ مِن وَرَآيِٕ حِجَابٍ أَوۡ يُرۡسِلَ رَسُولٗا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٞ

It is not (fitting) for any human being that God should speak to him, except (by) inspiration, or from behind a veil, or (that) He should send a messenger and he inspire by His permission whatever He pleases. Surely He is most high, wise.

Verse 52

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ رُوحٗا مِّنۡ أَمۡرِنَاۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدۡرِي مَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ وَلَا ٱلۡإِيمَٰنُ وَلَٰكِن جَعَلۡنَٰهُ نُورٗا نَّهۡدِي بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَاۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهۡدِيٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ

In this way We have inspired you (with) a spirit of Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor (what) belief (was), but We have made it a light by means of which We guide whomever We please of Our servants. Surely you will guide (people) to a straight path,

Verse 53

صِرَٰطِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ أَلَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَصِيرُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ

the path of God, the One to whom (belongs) whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Is it not a fact that all affairs are returned to God?

This refers to how Allah sends revelation. Sometimes He casts something into the heart of the Prophet, and he has no doubt that it is from Allah, as it was reported in Sahih Ibn Hibban that the Messenger of Allah said:

«Ar-Ruh Al-Qudus (i.e., Jibril) breathed into my heart that no soul will die until its allotted provision and time have expired, so have Taqwa of Allah and keep seeking in a good (and lawful) way.»

{or from behind a veil} - as He spoke to Musa, peace be upon him. He asked to see Him after He had spoken to him, but this was not granted to him.

In the Sahih, it recorded that the Messenger of Allah said to Jabir bin 'Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him:

«Allah never speaks to anyone except from behind a veil, but He spoke to your father directly.»

This is how it was stated in the Hadith. He (Jabir's father) was killed on the day of Uhud, but this refers to the realm of Al-Barzakh, whereas the Ayah speaks of this earthly realm.

Quoted Scripture
"or (that) He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His leave."

as Jibril, peace be upon him, and other angels came down to the Prophets, peace be upon them.

{Verily, He is Most High, Most Wise.} He is Most High, All-Knowing, Most Wise.

Quoted Scripture
"And thus We have sent to you Ruh of Our command."

means, the Qur'an.

Quoted Scripture
"You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith."

means, 'in the details which were given to you in the Qur'an.'

{But We have made it} means, the Qur'an,

Quoted Scripture
"a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our servants We will."

This is like the Ayah:

Quoted Scripture
"[Say: "It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Qur'an) is blindness for them."](quran/41/44)}."

{And verily, you} means, 'O Muhammad,'

{are indeed guiding to a straight path.} means, the correct behavior. Then Allah explains this further by saying:

{The path of Allah} meaning, His Laws which He enjoins.

Quoted Scripture
"to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth."

means, their Lord and Sovereign, the One Who is controlling and ruling them, Whose decree cannot be overturned.

{Verily, all matters at the end go to Allah.} means, all matters come back to Him and He issues judgement concerning them. Glorified and exalted be He far above all that the evildoers and deniers say.

[This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Ash-Shura]

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 8, Page 611-613)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.