سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 43
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿43﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
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.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
We sent
مِن
min
before you
قَبْلِكَ
qablika
before you
إِلَّا
illā
except
رِجَالًۭا
rijālan
men
نُّوحِىٓ
nūḥī
We revealed
إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ
ilayhim
to them
فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟
fasalū
so ask
أَهْلَ
ahla
(the) people
ٱلذِّكْرِ
l-dhik'ri
(of) the Reminder
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you
لَا
lā
(do) not
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
know
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
43. And before you, We did not send any messengers except men [44] to whom We revealed. So if you do not know, ask the people of knowledge.
[44]
The Humanity of the Messenger of Allah, a Historical Aspect:
This is also an answer to one of the objections of the polytheists, which has already been mentioned several times before, that this Prophet is just a human being like us. He eats, drinks, walks, moves about, and lives a family life just like us—so what is that distinguishing quality in him that we should accept him as the Messenger of Allah? This objection has been answered from different angles at various places. Here, the answer is being given only from the historical aspect: that all the messengers who came before you were also human beings and men. Sayyiduna Adam ؑ, Nuh ؑ, Ibrahim ؑ (whom the polytheists of Makkah claimed to follow), Ishaq ؑ, Ismail ؑ, Yaqub ؑ, Yusuf ؑ, Musa ؑ, Isa ؑ, and others—all of them were human beings, and you know this as well. And if you have any doubt, then ask the people of knowledge who are aware of the previous prophets and their circumstances, and here, the people of knowledge refers to the scholars of the Jews and Christians: were they human beings or some other kind of creation?
[44]
The Humanity of the Messenger of Allah, a Historical Aspect:
This is also an answer to one of the objections of the polytheists, which has already been mentioned several times before, that this Prophet is just a human being like us. He eats, drinks, walks, moves about, and lives a family life just like us—so what is that distinguishing quality in him that we should accept him as the Messenger of Allah? This objection has been answered from different angles at various places. Here, the answer is being given only from the historical aspect: that all the messengers who came before you were also human beings and men. Sayyiduna Adam ؑ, Nuh ؑ, Ibrahim ؑ (whom the polytheists of Makkah claimed to follow), Ishaq ؑ, Ismail ؑ, Yaqub ؑ, Yusuf ؑ, Musa ؑ, Isa ؑ, and others—all of them were human beings, and you know this as well. And if you have any doubt, then ask the people of knowledge who are aware of the previous prophets and their circumstances, and here, the people of knowledge refers to the scholars of the Jews and Christians: were they human beings or some other kind of creation?
