Allah has always chosen prophets from the ordinary people to spread His message to others and bring them under the fold of religion of Allah. Never have been prophets from the elite and the rich for such people are always distant from the ordinary people and are even the most stubborn to resist the spread of Allah. Thus those prophets and their followers who continued to spread the message of Allah were always subject o inhuman and harsh treatment by those who feared that with the spread of Allah, their dominion will collapse.
for this arduous job of Da'wah, the invitation to religion of Allah, Allah has promised the prophets and their followers, who take upon them the continuation of spread of message of Allah, not to fear for they are accountable to their noble deeds to none but He. This is the message being conveyed in the 39th verse of Surah 33. Al-Ahzab (The Confederates) as chosen for explanation today and given herein under:
ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُۥ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًۭا
They who would deliver the messages of Allah and would fear Him only and none besides Him. [Thus you also fear Him alone O Prophet and rest assured that] God is sufficient to take account..
This verse is referring to those individuals who convey the message of Allah, are devout in their fear of Allah, and do not fear anyone except Him. It emphasizes the importance of conveying the message of Islam and upholding the principles of faith with steadfastness and sincerity. These individuals are characterized by their commitment to fulfilling their responsibilities as messengers of Allah, their unwavering trust in Him, and their fearlessness in the face of challenges and opposition.
Key Themes of the Verse
- Conveying the Message of Allah:
- The verse highlights the role of those who communicate the message of Islam. This refers to the prophets, scholars, and da'ees (those who invite others to Islam). They are entrusted with the message of Allah, and their duty is to spread it, regardless of the challenges they might face.
- The phrase "those who convey the messages of Allah" underscores the importance of delivering divine guidance in its purest form, as revealed in the Quran and Sunnah.
- Fear of Allah:
- The verse underscores that those who carry the message of Allah should not fear anyone or anything except Allah. This is a central theme in Islamic teachings — believers are encouraged to trust in Allah alone, to place their reliance on Him, and to fear no one but Him.
- This highlights the concept of taqwa (God-consciousness), which is the state of having constant awareness of Allah, fearing Him, and being mindful of His commandments in all situations.
- Reckoning with Allah: The phrase "sufficient is Allah as a Reckoner" emphasizes that, ultimately, Allah is the One who will hold individuals accountable for their deeds. This statement serves as a reminder that all actions, especially those related to the message of Islam, will be judged by Allah, and He alone is the ultimate authority and evaluator of one's efforts.
Context of the Verse
This verse was revealed during a time of great difficulty for the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions, particularly in the aftermath of the Battle of the Confederates (Ghazwat al-Ahzab). During this time, the Muslims faced immense challenges, including external threats from the confederate forces and internal divisions. Despite these difficulties, the verse stresses the importance of conveying Allah's message fearlessly and placing complete trust in Allah, regardless of the opposition or adversity.
Link to Hadith
Several hadiths reinforce the themes of fearlessness in conveying the message of Islam and the importance of not fearing anyone but Allah. Here are a few relevant narrations:
- Hadith on Fearlessness in Propagation of Islam:
- The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Convey from me, even if it is one verse.” (Sahih Bukhari)
- This hadith emphasizes the importance of conveying Allah’s message, no matter how much knowledge a person possesses. Even if it is just a single verse of the Quran, the Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged Muslims to share it with others. The verse from Surah Al-Ahzab (33:39) aligns with this, as it encourages believers to be brave and fear no one when spreading the message of Islam.
- Hadith on Trusting in Allah:
- The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “If you ask, ask Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah.” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi)
- This hadith reflects the idea that Muslims should rely on Allah alone for assistance and sustenance. It mirrors the essence of "do not fear anyone except Allah" in the verse, reminding believers that their trust and fear should be directed solely towards Allah, regardless of the challenges they face.
- Hadith on Accountability and the Reckoning of Allah:
- The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.” (Sahih Bukhari)
- This hadith reinforces the idea of personal accountability. Just as a shepherd is responsible for his flock, individuals who carry the message of Islam are accountable for how they fulfill their duties. Ultimately, everyone will be held accountable by Allah, as stated in the verse: “Sufficient is Allah as a Reckoner.” This accountability also reminds Muslims to fear Allah alone, as He is the One who will judge their actions.
Conclusion:
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:39) highlights the qualities of those who convey the message of Allah, emphasizing their courage and fearlessness in delivering the message, their profound fear of Allah alone, and the fact that ultimately, Allah is the One who will hold them accountable. The hadiths on conveying the message, trusting in Allah, and accountability further illuminate the message of this verse, stressing the importance of sincerity, reliance on Allah, and fearlessness in the face of challenges when upholding the message of Islam.
Let us, every brother and sister in Islam, do our best to talk about message of Allah, as contained in the Qur'an, to others around us, even Muslims who have not fully grasped the message of Allah, without the desire to earn a reward or be known and admired for our act of Da'wah, for Allah has taken upon Him the reward for people who spread His message shunning any fear or harm. Let Allah be our Guardian and Protector and responsible for our reward.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
For more selected verse on Da'wah, please refere to our reference page: Da'wah - The Invitation to Non-Muslims to Islam
For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.
