Surah An-Nahl — Verse 43

Word Meanings:

• Rijālan (رِجَالًا): Men, human males — not angels or women.
• Nūḥī ilayhim (نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ): We reveal to them — indicating that these men receive divine revelation directly from Allah.
• Ahl al-Dhikr (أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ): The people of remembrance/knowledge — referring to the scholars of the previous Scriptures (the Torah and the Gospel), and by extension, all those who possess knowledge of divine revelation.

Tafsir (Explanation):

In this noble verse, Allah addresses His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with a profound reassurance and a decisive answer to the doubts raised by the disbelievers of Quraysh. When they objected, saying: "How can a mere human being be a Messenger from Allah? Why was an angel not sent instead?" — Allah responded by affirming His established and unchangeable divine practice (Sunnah) throughout history: "And We sent not before you, [O Muhammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message]."

This means that from the time of Adam to the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, every single Messenger sent by Allah was a human being — a man from among his own people — not an angel, and not a woman. This was the consistent pattern of divine wisdom: messengers were sent from among humans so that people could see them, hear them, learn from them, and follow their example in daily life. If a messenger were an angel, people would not be able to interact with him normally, nor would they be able to emulate his life as a human.

Allah then instructs the disbelievers: "So ask the people of the remembrance if you do not know." This carries two beautiful meanings:

1. The specific context: The Quraysh were told to ask the Jewish and Christian scholars who had knowledge of the previous Scriptures — the Torah and the Gospel — to confirm that all the prophets who came before (like Moses, Jesus, Abraham, and Noah, peace be upon them all) were indeed human beings, not angels. The People of the Book would testify to this truth, as their own scriptures clearly stated it.
2. The general principle: This verse establishes a timeless and universal rule for all Muslims — that whenever a person does not know something about matters of religion, they should ask those who possess knowledge. This is the foundation of seeking Islamic knowledge from qualified scholars. It encourages humility in learning and acknowledges that Allah has placed knowledge in the hearts of sincere scholars who dedicate their lives to understanding the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

This verse is a powerful reminder for every believer: Do not be arrogant in your ignorance — ask, learn, and grow. The path to guidance begins with the admission that we do not know, and the beautiful act of seeking knowledge from those who do.

A Da'wah Reflection:

My dear reader, reflect on the profound wisdom in this verse. Allah chose human messengers because He wanted to show us that humanity is not a barrier to greatness — rather, it is the very vessel through which divine guidance flows. A human being can reach such heights of closeness to Allah that he becomes the recipient of divine revelation. This means that you too — as a human being — have the potential for immense spiritual elevation. The prophets were not angels; they were people who ate, drank, walked in the markets, faced hardships, and yet remained steadfast upon the truth.

So if the disbelievers of Makkah were astonished that a human could be a messenger, let us be astonished instead at the immense mercy of Allah — that He sent us guides from among ourselves, who understand our struggles, our weaknesses, and our aspirations. And when you encounter matters of faith that you do not understand, do not turn away in confusion or arrogance. Instead, embrace the beautiful command of this verse: ask the people of knowledge. The doors of learning are open, the scholars are available, and the Qur'an is alive with guidance for those who seek it.

May Allah make us among those who seek knowledge sincerely, act upon it faithfully, and invite others to it with wisdom and gentleness. Ameen.