Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 158

Mufti Taqi Usmani

(O Prophet Muhammad) Say, “O people, I am a messenger of Allah (sent) to you from the One to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life and brings death. So, believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Ummiyy (unlettered) prophet, who believes in Allah and in His words, and follow him, so that you may find the right path.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O humanity! I am Allah’s Messenger to you all. To Him ˹alone˺ belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His revelations. And follow him, so you may be ˹rightly˺ guided.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Say [O Prophet], “O people, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and earth; none has the right to be worshiped except Him; He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him, so that you may be guided.

A. J. Arberry

Say: 'O mankind, I am the Messenger of God to you all, of Him to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life, and makes to die. Believe then in God, and in His Messenger, the Prophet of the common folk, who believes in God and His words, and follow him; haply so you will be guided.'

Abdul Haleem

Say [Muhammad], ‘People, I am the Messenger of God to you all, from Him who has control over the heavens and the earth. There is no God but Him; He gives life and death, so believe in God and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet who believes in God and His words, and follow him so that you may find guidance.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou: O mankind! verily I am the apostle of Allah unto you all- of Him whose is the dominion of the heavens and the earth. No god is there but he; He giveth life and causeth to die. Believe then in Allah and His prophet, the unlettered prcphet, who believeth in Allah and His words, and follow him that haply ye may be guided.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say; "O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth; there is no god but He; it is He That giveth both life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His words; follow him that (so) ye may be guided."

Abul Ala Maududi

[Say, O Muhammad]: 'O men! I am Allah's Messenger to you all - of Him to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He. He grants life and deals death. Have faith then, in Allah and in His Messenger, the ummi Prophet who believes in Allah and His words; and follow him so that you may be guided aright.'

Ahmed Ali

Say: "O men, I am verily the apostle of God to you all. His whose kingdom extends over the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He, the giver of life and death. So believe in God and the messenger, the gentile Prophet, sent by Him, who believes in God and His messages. Obey him; you may haply be guided aright."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “O people! Indeed I am, towards you all, the Noble Messenger of Allah – for Whom (Allah) only is the kingship of the heavens and the earth; there is none worthy of worship, except Him – giving life and giving death; therefore believe in Allah and His Noble Messenger, the Prophet who is untutored (except by Allah), who believes in Allah and His Words, and obey him (the Prophet) to attain guidance.” (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him – is the Prophet towards all mankind.)

Ali Quli Qarai

Say, ‘O mankind! I am the Apostle of Allah to you all, [of Him] to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god except Him. He gives life and brings death.’ So have faith in Allah and His Apostle, the untaught prophet, who has faith in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may be guided.

Ali Ünal

Say (O Messenger to all humankind): "O humankind! Surely I am to you all the Messenger of God, of Him to Whom belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity but He. He gives life and causes to die." Believe, then, in God and His Messenger, the Prophet who neither writes nor reads, who believes in God and His words (all His Books, commandments, and deeds); and follow him so that you may be rightly-guided.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Say, `O mankind! I am a Messenger to you all from Allâh to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no other, cannot be and will never be One worthy of worship but He, Who gives life and causes death, so believe in Allâh and in His Messenger, the Arab, the Prophet who believes in Allâh and in (all) His words, and follow him so that you may be rightly guided so as to reach the goal.´

English Literal

Say: "You, you the people, I am God`s messenger to you all/all together, which for him (is) the skies`/space`s and the earth`s/Planet Earth`s ownership , no God except Him, He revives/makes alive , and He makes die, so believe by God, and His messenger the prophet the illiterate/belonging to a nation who believes by God, and His words/expressions, and follow him, maybe/perhaps you be guided."107

Faridul Haque

Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), "O people! Indeed I am, towards you all, the Noble Messenger of Allah - for Whom (Allah) only is the kingship of the heavens and the earth; there is none worthy of worship, except Him - giving life and giving death; therefore believe in Allah and His Noble Messenger, the Prophet who is untutored (except by Allah), who believes in Allah and His Words, and obey him (the Prophet) to attain guidance." (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him – is the Prophet towards all mankind.)

Hamid S. Aziz

Say, "O you people! Verily, I am the Messenger of Allah unto you all, of Him whose is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth, there is no God but He! He gives life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered (or not learned, unsophisticated) prophet, - who believes in Allah and in His Words - then follow him that per chance (or possibly) you may be guided."

Hilali & Khan

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He); It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad SAW) who believes in Allah and His Words [(this Quran), the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allah's Word: "Be!" - and he was, i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)], and follow him so that you may be guided."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Those who follow the Messenger-Prophet, the Ummi, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. He enjoins them good and forbids them evil, and makes lawful to them the good things and prohibits for them impure things and removes from them their burden and the shackles which were on them. So those who believe in him and honour him and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him -- these are the successful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say: O people! surely I am the Apostle of Allah to you all, of Him Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth there is no god but He; He brings to life and causes to die therefore believe in Allah and His apostle, the Ummi Prophet who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may walk in the right way.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah to you all - (the messenger of) Him unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no Allah save Him. He quickeneth and He giveth death. So believe in Allah and His messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believeth in Allah and in His Words, and follow him that haply ye may be led aright.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), tell them, "People, I have come to you all as the Messengers of God, to whom the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs. There is no God but He. In His hands are life and death. Have faith in God and His Messengers, the unlettered Prophet who believes in God and His words. Follow him so that you will perhaps have guidance."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Say: 'O mankind, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all. His is the kingdom in the heavens and the earth. There is no god except He. He revives and causes to die. Therefore, believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His Words. Follow him in order that you are guided.'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say: "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah -- to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped but He. It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in Allah and His Words, and follow him so that you may be guided."

Wahiduddin Khan

Say, "People, I am God's Messenger to you all, He has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. There is no god but Him. He ordains life and death, so believe in God and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet who believes in God and His words. Follow him so that you may be rightly guided."

Talal Itani

Say, “O people, I am the Messenger of God to you all—He to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life and causes death.” So believe in God and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believes in God and His words. And follow him, that you may be guided.

Tafsir jalalayn

Say, addressing the Prophet (s) here; `O mankind, I am the Messenger of God to you all, [the Messenger] of Him to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. There is no god but Him. He gives life and makes to die. Believe, then, in God and His Messenger, the uninstructed Prophet, who believes in God and His words, the Qur'n, and follow him, so that you might be guided, led aright.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Muhammad's Message is Universal

Allah says to His Prophet and Messenger Muhammad,

قُلْ

Say, (O Muhammad),

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ
..

O mankind!

this is directed to mankind red and black, and the Arabs and non-Arabs alike,
.
إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا

I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah,

This Ayah mentions the Prophet's honor and greatness, for he is the Final Prophet who was sent to all mankind (and the Jinns).

Allah said,

قُلِ اللَّهِ شَهِيدٌ بِيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَأُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ هَـذَا الْقُرْءَانُ لاٌّنذِرَكُمْ بِهِ وَمَن بَلَغَ

Say, "Allah is Witness between you and I; this Qur'an has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach." (6;19)

وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الاٌّحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ

but those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place. (11;17)

and,

وَقُلْ لِّلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ وَالاٍّمِّيِّينَ ءَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُواْ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَواْ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَـغُ

And say to those who were given the Scripture and to the illiterates (Arab pagans);"Do you (also) submit yourselves (to Allah in Islam)!" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message. (3;20)

There are many other Ayat and more Hadiths than can be counted on this subject. It is also well-known in our religion that the Messenger of Allah was sent to all mankind (and the Jinns).

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Ad-Darda' said,

"Abu Bakr and Umar had an argument in which Abu Bakr made Umar angry. So Umar went away while angry and Abu Bakr followed him asking him to forgive him, but Umar refused. Umar shut his door closed in Abu Bakr's face and Abu Bakr went to the Messenger of Allah while we were with him. The Messenger of Allah said,

أَمَّا صَاحِبُكُمْ هَذَا فَقَدْ غَامَر

This fellow of yours (Abu Bakr) has made someone angry!

Umar became sorry for what he did, went to the Prophet and greeted him with the Salam and sat next to him, telling him what had happened. The Messenger of Allah became angry (at Umar), and realizing that, Abu Bakr said, `O Allah's Messenger! It was me who was unjust.'

The Messenger of Allah said,

هَلْ أَنْتُمْ تَارِكُو لِي صَاحِبِي إِنِّي قُلْتُ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَقُلْتُمْ كَذَبْتَ وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ صَدَقْت

Will you leave my Companion (Abu Bakr) alone! I said, `O People! I am the Messenger of Allah to you all,' and you said, `You lie,' but Abu Bakr declared, `You said the truth."'

Al-Bukhari recorded it.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah said,

أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ نَبِيٌّ قَبْلِي وَلَا أَقُولُهُ فَخْرًا

بُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ كَافَّةً الاَْحْمَرِ وَالاَْسْوَدِ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ

وَأُحِلَّتْ لِي الْغَنَايِمُ وَلَمْ تَحِلَّ لاِأَحَدٍ قَبْلِي

وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الاَْرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا

وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ فَأَخَّرْتُهَا لاِأُمَّتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَهِيَ لِمَنْ لَاأ يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ شَيْيًا

I have been given five things which were not given to any Prophet before me, and I do not say it out of pride.

I was sent to all mankind (their) black and white alike.

Allah made me victorious by fright, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey.

The spoils of war are lawful for me, yet it was not lawful for anyone else before me.

The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform purification with.

I have been given the Shafa'ah (right of intercession), and I saved it for my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, the Shafa'ah will reach those who associate none with Allah in worship.

This Hadith's chain of narration is suitable, but the Two Sahihs did not record it.

Allah's statement,

الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضِ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يُحْيِـي وَيُمِيتُ

to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped but He. It is He Who gives life and causes death.

describes Allah by the words of the Messenger that He Who has sent him is the Creator, Lord and King of all things and in His Hand is the control, life, death and the decision.

Just as Allah said

فَأمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الاُمِّيِّ

So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write,

Allah proclaims here that Muhammad is His Messenger and reiterates this fact by commanding that he be believed in and followed. Allah said,
النَّبِيِّ الاُمِّيِّ
(The Prophet who can neither read nor write) who you were promised and given the good news of in previous revealed books. Certainly, Muhammad was amply described in the previous books, including his description as being the unlettered Prophet.

Allah's statement,

الَّذِي يُوْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ

who believes in Allah and His Words,

means, his actions conform with his words and he believes in what he was given from his Lord.

وَاتَّبِعُوهُ

And follow him,

embrace his path and guidance,

لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ



so that you may be guided, (to the Straight Path)