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Surah An-Nahl, Verse 43

سورة النحل، الآية ٤٣

16:43 Juz 14 Hizb 27 Page 272 of the mushaf Meccan surah

Text of verse 16:43

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ۝٤٣

Transliteration

wamā arsalnā min qablika illā rijālan nūḥī ilayhim fasalū ahla l-dhik'ri in kuntum lā taʿlamūna

Translation

And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message [i.e., former scriptures] if you do not know.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 43 of Surah An-Nahl (16:43), a Meccan surah, is in juz 14, on page 272 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.

Listen to verse 43 of Surah An-Nahl

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Tafsir of verse 43

Al-Mukhtasar

I did not send before you - O Messenger - except men who were human beings, to whom I sent revelation. I did not send Messengers that were angels. This is Our constant practice. If you all deny that then ask the people of the previous scriptures and they will tell you that Messengers were on;y human beings.

Tafsir of the whole Surah An-Nahl

Other translations of verse 43

We did not send before you except men to whom We sent revelation. Ask the people of knowledge26, if you do not know.

Notes

[26] People of the knowledge (ahl al-dhikr) are the People of the Book, the Jews and Christians. They are mentioned here for the Makkan Arabs because they were generally regarded as possessors of knowledge before the advent of Islam.

And We sent not (as Our Messengers) before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) any but men, whom We sent revelation, (to preach and invite mankind to believe in the Oneness of Allâh). So ask (you, O pagans of Makkah) of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not.

And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men whom We inspired - Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not! -

And before thee also the messengers We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message.

And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation-- so ask the followers of the Reminder if you do not know--

And in no way did We send (even) before you, except men to whom We revealed. "So ask the population of the Remembrance, in case you (i.e. the pagan Arabs) do not know."

Verse 43 word by word

  1. وَمَآ wamā And not
  2. أَرْسَلْنَا arsalnā We sent ر س ل
  3. مِن min before you
  4. قَبْلِكَ qablika before you ق ب ل
  5. إِلَّا illā except
  6. رِجَالًا rijālan men ر ج ل
  7. نُّوحِىٓ nūḥī We revealed و ح ي
  8. إِلَيْهِمْ ilayhim to them
  9. فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ fasalū so ask س أ ل
  10. أَهْلَ ahla (the) people أ ه ل
  11. ٱلذِّكْرِ l-dhik'ri (of) the Reminder ذ ك ر
  12. إِن in if
  13. كُنتُمْ kuntum you ك و ن
  14. لَا lā (do) not
  15. تَعْلَمُونَ taʿlamūna know ع ل م

Hadiths that cite this verse

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 92

The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about things which he did not like, but when the questioners insisted, the Prophet got angry. He then said to the people, "Ask me anything you like." A man asked, "Who is my father?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Your father is Hudhafa." Then another man got up and said, "Who…

سَلُونِي عَمَّا شِئْتُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ رَجُلٌ مَنْ أَبِي قَالَ ‏"‏ أَبُوكَ حُذَافَةُ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَامَ آخَرُ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَبِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَبُوكَ سَالِمٌ مَوْلَى شَيْبَةَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَلَمَّا رَأَى عُمَرُ…

Narrated by Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari + 2 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2359a

Paradise and Hellfire were presented to me, and I have never seen anything like today in terms of good and evil. If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much

"Paradise and Hellfire were presented to me, and I have never seen anything like today in terms of good and evil. If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much." He said: The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not experience a day…

عُرِضَتْ عَلَىَّ الْجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ فَلَمْ أَرَ كَالْيَوْمِ فِي الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ وَلَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلاً وَلَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 11 other versions Explained

Verses related to verse 43

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Yunus 10:2

    أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ قَالَ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَٰحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ

    Have the people been amazed that We revealed [revelation] to a man from among them, [saying], "Warn mankind and give good tidings to those who believe that they will have a [firm] precedence of honor with their Lord"? [But] the disbelievers say, "Indeed, this is an obvious magician."

  • Al-Hijr 15:9

    إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ

    Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur’ān], and indeed, We will be its guardian.

  • Al-Isra 17:93–94

    أَوْ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيْتٌ مِّن زُخْرُفٍ أَوْ تَرْقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَن نُّؤْمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا كِتَٰبًا نَّقْرَؤُهُۥ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّى هَلْ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا …

    Or you have a house of ornament [i.e., gold] or you ascend into the sky. And [even then], we will not believe in your ascension until you bring down to us a book we may read." Say, "Exalted is my Lord! Was I ever but a human messenger?" …

  • Al-Furqan 25:20

    وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّآ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا

    And We did not send before you, [O Muḥammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing.

  • Al-Ahqaf 46:9

    قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدْرِى مَا يُفْعَلُ بِى وَلَا بِكُمْ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

    Say, "I am not something new among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner."

  • Al-Kahf 18:110

    قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا

    Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Al-Anbya 21:7

    وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

    And We sent not before you, [O Muḥammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message], so ask the people of the message [i.e., former scriptures] if you do not know.

  • Yusuf 12:109

    وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

    And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh; then will you not reason?

  • Al-Anbya 21:25

    وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ

    And We sent not before you any messenger except We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."

  • Al-Hajj 22:52

    وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ وَلَا نَبِىٍّ إِلَّآ إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلْقَى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فِىٓ أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ فَيَنسَخُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

    And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke [or recited], Satan threw into it [some misunderstanding]. But Allāh abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allāh makes precise His verses. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

All similar verses of Surah An-Nahl

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