Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:67
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ · Medinan · Verse 67 of 120
۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
Translation
Messenger, proclaim everything that has been sent down to you from your Lord- if you do not, then you will not have communicated His message- and God will protect you from people. God does not guide those who defy Him.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
"O Messenger, deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord..." (5:67). This powerful verse is a direct address from Allah to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. When we approach it with humility and reverence, the specific words chosen illuminate the profound nature of his mission and Allah's unwavering support.
The Sacred Title and Source
The verse begins by addressing the Prophet as "Ya Ayyuha al-Rasool" (O Messenger). This isn't just a general address; it's a specific title that underscores his unique and elevated status. As Ibn Ashur explains, this chosen address highlights the immense honor and the weighty responsibility of being Allah's chosen intermediary between Him and humanity. It reminds us that what follows is a command intimately tied to his sacred role.
The revelation itself is described as "min Rabbika" (from your Lord). The selection of the Name "Rabb" (Lord), rather than "Allah," is deeply meaningful. It evokes Allah's attributes of nurturing, sustaining, and guiding. This choice adds a layer of honor to the message being delivered and emphasizes that it comes from the One who cares for the Prophet and all creation, thus demanding its prompt and full dissemination.
The Absolute Duty to Deliver
Allah then commands, "Balligh ma unzila ilayka" (Deliver what has been revealed to you). The command is comprehensive: the Prophet is to deliver *all* of the revelation. The scholars note that the absence of a specific object after "deliver" implies universality; he must convey it to everyone who needs to know. Every part, whether a legal ruling, a story, or a description of hypocrites, carries significance and must be fully communicated.
The next part of the verse presents a stark warning: "Wa in lam taf'al fama ballaghta risalatah" (And if you do not, then you have not delivered His message). The conditional particle "in" (إن), typically used for uncertain conditions in Arabic, subtly highlights the inconceivable nature of the Prophet *not* delivering the message. This powerful phrasing, as al-Razi points out, is a rhetorical emphasis (mubalagha). It means that even holding back a single part of the revelation would be tantamount to failing the entire mission. The consequence is so severe that it signifies a complete failure in delivering the trust placed upon him.
Divine Assurance and Protection
Following this momentous command, Allah gives a profound promise: "Wallahu ya'simuka minan-nas" (And Allah will protect you from the people). This assurance begins with Allah's majestic Name, "Allah," emphasizing the divine power and certainty of this protection. Ibn Ashur explains that this provides reassurance to the Prophet, anticipating any anxieties he might have about the reactions of his enemies. It signifies: your duty is to deliver, and My duty is to protect you.
Both Ibn Ashur and al-Razi clarify that "the people" (an-nas) here refers specifically to the disbelievers (kafirin), including Jews, hypocrites, and polytheists, who posed a threat to the Prophet. This protection (ismah) is a divine safeguarding, particularly from assassination, ensuring he could complete his mission. It doesn't mean he would never face any harm, but that he would be preserved from mortal threats until his message was complete.
The verse concludes by clarifying this protection: "Innallaha la yahdi al-qawmal-kafirin" (Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people). This phrase offers further comfort, assuring the Prophet that the plots and schemes of these disbelievers against him and his message will ultimately fail. Allah will not enable their malicious intentions to succeed, ensuring that His light will ultimately prevail.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf)
Qur'anic Worlds
This verse opens with a direct, profound command to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Allah addresses him as "Ya ayyuha al-Rasool" (O Messenger), a title emphasizing his weighty responsibility as the conveyor of divine truth.
The Unwavering Command
The core of the verse is the imperative: "Balligh ma unzila ilayka min Rabbik" (Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord). This is an absolute instruction to deliver the entire message of Islam, without compromise or hesitation. As Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, affirmed, anyone who claims that the Prophet (peace be upon him) ever concealed any part of the revelation has indeed uttered a great falsehood against Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was commanded to proclaim everything, regardless of how people might react, whether they liked it or disliked it.
The verse then issues a stark warning: "Wa in lam taf'al fama ballaghta risalatah" (And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message). This means that even if a single part of the divine message were to be withheld or not delivered completely, it would be as if the entire mission of prophethood had failed. This highlights the immense importance of comprehensive and unreserved delivery of Allah's revelation. Mufti Shafi explains that this made the Prophet (peace be upon him) strive with all his strength to fulfill this heavy obligation, culminating in his asking the companions at his Last Hajj, "Have I conveyed?" to which they bore witness that he had.
Divine Protection in the World of Revelation
Understanding the "World of Revelation" lens helps us grasp the context of this command. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was undertaking a challenging mission, facing hostility from various groups including the Quraysh, Jews, and Christians, who are often addressed in the surrounding verses of Surah Al-Ma'idah. The command to convey the entire message could naturally lead to fear for his personal safety.
It is in this challenging environment that Allah grants a powerful assurance: "Wallahu ya'simuka min al-nas" (And Allah will protect you from the people). This promise of divine protection was a profound relief and a source of courage for the Prophet (peace be upon him). Scholars like al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir recount how, before this verse, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was often guarded by his companions out of concern for his safety. But upon the revelation of this verse, he dismissed his guards, saying, "O people, go back, for Allah has protected me."
This protection meant that no one would be able to kill him or inflict harm that would prevent him from completing his mission. Narrations mention incidents, such as a Bedouin attempting to kill the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he rested under a tree, only for the man's hand to tremble and drop the sword when the Prophet (peace be upon him) calmly replied, "Allah!" This divine safeguarding allowed him to fulfill his mission without fear, even when denouncing the errors of the people of the book or the polytheists, as al-Tabari notes.
Unwavering Truth for the Disbelievers
The verse concludes with a reminder about those who reject the truth: "Inna Allaha la yahdi al-qawma al-kafirin" (Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people). This statement reassures the Prophet (peace be upon him) that his duty is to convey the message truthfully and entirely, without concern for those whose hearts are sealed against guidance. Allah will not lead to the right path those who stubbornly deviate from truth and deny what has come from Him. Sayyid Qutb emphasizes that this means the Prophet (peace be upon him) should not soften his message or compromise hoping for acceptance from those who are set against the truth; his role is clear communication, and guidance is ultimately from Allah.
Sources: al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Kathir, Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:67 is discussed in 8 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:67 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.