Surah Al-A'raf 7:2
سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ · Meccan · Verse 2 of 206
كِتَٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌۭ مِّنْهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Translation
This Book has been sent down to you [Prophet]––let there be no anxiety in your heart because of it––so that you may use it to give warning and to remind the believers:
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse, a direct address from Allah, opens with a profound declaration and then offers guidance and reassurance to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. It begins by establishing the very nature and origin of the revelation itself.
The Nature of the Book
The verse starts with the word كِتَٰبٌ (Kitāb), meaning "a Book." The use of this word in its indefinite form (without "al," the definite article) carries several layers of meaning. As Ibn Ashur explains, it could emphasize that this is a magnificent, awe-inspiring Book, unlike any other. It also serves as a subtle yet powerful rebuttal to those who denied its divine origin, reminding them that it is a *type* of Book, much like the previous scriptures sent to earlier prophets. The phrasing أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ (unzila ilayk, "sent down to you") uses the passive voice. This is for brevity, as the One who sends down all scriptures, Allah Himself, is clearly understood. This underscores that its source is celestial, a direct communication from the Divine.
A Heart Free of Constriction
Following this declaration, the instruction comes: فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌۭ مِّنْهُ (falā yakun fī ṣadrika ḥarajun minhu, "So let there not be in your chest any constriction from it"). The word حَرَجٌ (ḥaraj) literally refers to a densely forested, narrow place, difficult to navigate. Metaphorically, as scholars like Ibn Ashur and al-Razi elaborate, it describes a state of inner constriction, sadness, distress, or doubt. The instruction here is a profound reassurance to the Prophet. It’s a call for his heart to remain expansive and free, not burdened by the challenges of conveying the message, the denial of his people, or any uncertainty about the Book's truth. The command is directed at the "constriction" itself, an emphatic way of saying, "Do not allow any such feeling to enter your heart," highlighting the importance of complete inner peace and certainty in carrying out his mission.
Twofold Purpose: Warning and Reminder
The verse then clarifies the Book’s dual purpose: لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (litunthira bihi wa thikrā lil-mu’minīn, "so that you may warn with it, and as a reminder for the believers"). The لِ (li) particle here signifies "so that" or "for the purpose of." The primary goal, لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ (to warn with it), is mentioned first, as Ibn Ashur notes, because it addresses the most pressing need: challenging the falsehood of the polytheists and calling them away from destructive paths. The explicit object of this warning (the disbelievers) is left unsaid, implying its clear context.
Then, the Book's second purpose is revealed: وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (and a reminder for the believers). The word ذِكْرَىٰ (dhikra) implies an admonition, a remembrance, something that awakens what is already known or instinctively understood. Al-Razi explains this beautiful distinction: non-believers, engrossed in worldly matters, need a strong *warning* to shake them from their heedlessness. Believers, on the other hand, are noble souls with an inherent capacity for truth, yet they too can experience moments of forgetfulness. For them, the Quran is a *reminder*, sparking their innate connection to the Divine and guiding them back to spiritual clarity and purpose. The specific mention of "the believers" after the general "warning" also subtly elevates their status, acknowledging their receptiveness to Allah's words.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
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