Al-Qur'an Surah Ash-Shuraa Verse 52

Mufti Taqi Usmani

In similar way, We have revealed to you a Spirit from Our command. You did not know earlier what was the Book or what was Īmān (true faith), but We have made it (the Qur’ān) a light with which We guide whomsoever We will from among Our servants. And indeed you are guiding (people) to a straight path,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And so We have sent to you ˹O Prophet˺ a revelation by Our command. You did not know of ˹this˺ Book and faith ˹before˺. But We have made it a light, by which We guide whoever We will of Our servants. And you are truly leading ˹all˺ to the Straight Path—

Ruwwad Translation Center

Likewise We have revealed to you a revelation by Our command. You knew nothing of the Scripture or matters of faith, but We have made it [the Qur’an] a light by which We guide whom We will of Our slaves. And you are truly leading people to a straight path,

A. J. Arberry

Even so We have revealed to thee a Spirit of Our bidding. Thou knewest not what the Book was, nor belief; but We made it a light, whereby We guide whom We will of Our servants. And thou, surely thou shalt guide unto a straight path --

Abdul Haleem

So We have revealed a spirit to you [Prophet] by Our command: you knew neither the Scripture nor the faith, but We made it a light, guiding with it whoever We will of Our servants. You give guidance to the straight path,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Even so We have revealed Unto thee a spirit of Our command; thou knewest not whatsoever the Book was, nor whatsoever the faith; We have made it a light wherewith We guide whomsoever We will of Our bondmen. And verily thou guidest Unto a straight path.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And thus have We, by Our Command, sent inspiration to thee; thou knewest not (before) what was Revelation, and what was Faith; but We have made the (Qur'an) a Light, wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will; and verily thou dost guide (men) to the Straight Way,-

Abul Ala Maududi

Even so We revealed to you, (O Prophet), a spirit by Our command. (Ere to that) you knew neither what the Book nor what the faith was. But We made that spirit a light whereby We guide those of Our servants whom We please to the Right Way. Surely you are directing people to the Right Way,

Ahmed Ali

So have We revealed to you the Qur'an by Our command. You did not know what the Scripture was before, nor (the laws of) faith. And We made it a light by which We show the way to those of Our creatures as We please; and you certainly guide them to the right path,

Ahmed Raza Khan

And this is how We sent the divine revelation to you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) – a life giving thing, by Our command; neither did you know the Book nor the detailed commands of religion, but We have made this Qur’an a light by which We guide whomever We will from Our bondmen; and indeed you surely do guide to the Straight Path.

Ali Quli Qarai

Thus have We imbued you with a Spirit of Our command. You did not know what the Book is, nor what is faith; but We made it a light that We may guide by its means whomever We wish of Our servants. Indeed, you guide to a straight path,

Ali Ünal

And thus (in the ways mentioned) We have revealed to you a spirit of Our command (the life-giving Message, the Qur’an). You would not (otherwise) have known what the Book was (with all the knowledge it contains and the way of life it establishes), and what faith was (as described by the Book and with all its principles, requirements, and implications). But We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And certainly you, (by God’s guidance) guide (people) to a straight path –

Amatul Rahman Omar

(Prophet!) just so (as We sent revelations to other Prophets), We revealed to you the Word by Our command. (Before this revelation) you did not know what the Divine Book was nor (which of) the faith (it teaches), but We made it (- Our revelation to you) a light, whereby We guide such of our servants as We will. And truly you are guiding (mankind) on to the straight and right path,

English Literal

And like that We inspired/transmitted to you, a Soul/Spirit , from Our order/command/matter/affair, you were not knowing what (is) The Book , and nor the faith/belief, and but We made it a light, We guide with it whom We will/want from Our worshippers/slaves , and that you guide (E) to a straight/direct road/way.

Faridul Haque

And this is how We sent the divine revelation to you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) - a life giving thing, by Our command; neither did you know the Book nor the detailed commands of religion, but We have made this Qur’an a light by which We guide whomever We will from Our bondmen; and indeed you surely do guide to the Straight Path.

Hamid S. Aziz

And thus did We reveal to you (Muhammad) an inspired Book by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor what the faith was, but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We will of Our servants; and most surely you guide unto the Straight Way,

Hilali & Khan

And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad SAW) Ruhan (an Inspiration, and a Mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Quran) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will. And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And it is not vouchsafed to a mortal that Allah should speak to him, except by revelation or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger and revealing by His permission what He pleases. Surely He is High, Wise.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And thus did We reveal to you an inspired book by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor (what) the faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We please of Our servants; and most surely you show the way to the right path:

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And thus have We inspired in thee (Muhammad) a Spirit of Our command. Thou knewest not what the Scripture was, nor what the Faith. But We have made it a light whereby We guide whom We will of Our bondmen. And lo! thou verily dost guide unto a right path,

Muhammad Sarwar

Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, but We have made the Quran as a light by which We guide whichever of Our servants We want. You certainly guide (people) to the right path,

Qaribullah & Darwish

As such We have revealed to you (Prophet Muhammad) a spirit (the revelation of the Koran) from Our Ordinance. You did not know what the Book was, nor belief, but We made it a light whereby We guide those of Our worshipers whom We will. And you (Prophet Muhammad), you, surely guide to a Straight Path.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And thus We have sent to you Ruh of Our command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith. But We have made it a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our servants We will. And verily, you are indeed guiding to a straight path.

Wahiduddin Khan

We have thus revealed a Spirit to you [Prophet] by Our command: you knew neither the Scripture nor the faith, but We made it a light, guiding with it whoever We will of Our servants. You are indeed guiding to the straight path,

Talal Itani

We thus inspired you spiritually, by Our command. You did not know what the Scripture is, nor what faith is, but We made it a light, with which We guide whomever We will of Our servants. You surely guide to a straight path.

Tafsir jalalayn

And thus, in the same way that We have revealed to messengers other than you, have We revealed to you, O Muhammad (s), a Spirit, namely, the Qur'n, by which hearts are revived, from Our command, that [command] which We reveal to you. You did not know, before revelation came to you, what the Book was, [what] the Qur'n [was], nor faith, that is, its ordinances and [ritual] ceremonies (the negation comments in place of the verb on the action, and what has come after it constitutes two direct objects); but We have made it, namely, the Spirit -- or the Qur'n -- a light by which We guide whomever We will of Our servants. And verily you guide, you are summoning [people], by means of what is revealed to you, to a straight path, [a straight] way; the religion of Islam,

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَكَذَلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا

And thus We have sent to you Ruh of Our command.

means, the Qur'an.

مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَاا الاْاِيمَانُ

You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith.

means, `in the details which were given to you in the Qur'an.'

وَلَكِن جَعَلْنَاهُ

But We have made it,

means, the Qur'an,

نُورًا نَّهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ نَّشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِنَا

a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our servants We will.

This is like the Ayah;

قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هُدًى وَشِفَأءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَ فِى ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى

Say;

"It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Qur'an) is blindness for them." (41;44)

وَإِنَّكَ

And verily, you, (means, O Muhammad),

لَتَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ




are indeed guiding to a straight path.

means, the correct behavior.

Then Allah explains this further by saying