The Quran

سورة الشّوریٰ

Surah Al-Shûrâ 42:52

The Council · Verse 52 of 53

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا ۚ مَا كُنْتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَٰكِنْ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ نَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Abdul Mannan 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,

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,-

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,

12 more translations

Ali Unal

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 –

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.

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.

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And thus did We reveal to thee an inspired Book by our command. Thou knewest not what the Book was, nor (what) Faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We please of Our servants. And surely thou guidest to the right path --

Maulvi Sher Ali

And thus have We revealed to thee the Word by Our command. Thou didst not know what the Book was, nor what the faith. But We have made the revelation a light, whereby We guide such of Our servants as WE please. And, truly, thou guidest mankind to the right path,

Muhammad Asad

And thus, too, [O Muhammad,] have We revealed unto thee a life-giving message, [coming] at Our behest. [Ere this message came unto thee,] thou didst not know what revelation is, nor what faith [implies] but [now] We have caused this [message] to be a light, whereby We guide whom We will of Our servants, and, verily, [on the strength thereof] thou, too, shalt guide [men] onto the straight way -

Muhammad Musin 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 Qur'an) 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).

Muhammad 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,

Muhammed ali 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:

Rashad Khalifa

Thus, we inspired to you a revelation proclaiming our commandments. You had no idea about the scripture, or faith. Yet, we made this a beacon to guide whomever we choose from among our servants. Surely, you guide in a straight path.

Shabbir Ahmed

So, We have revealed to you (O Prophet) a life-giving message, by Our command. You did not know what a revealed Book is, nor what Faith implies. But now We have made it a Light through which We guide those of Our servants who will to be guided. (O Prophet) you guide them to the straight path.

Commentary 42:52 The word Rûhروح is used in the Holy Qur’ân always in the sense of Divine Revelation and Mercy (cf.:16:2; 32:9; 38:72; 16:102; 2:253; 2:87; 5:110; 58:22;…

وَكَذَ‌ٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا ۚ

42:52 The word Rûhروح is used in the Holy Qur’ân always in the sense of Divine Revelation and Mercy (cf.:16:2; 32:9; 38:72; 16:102; 2:253; 2:87; 5:110; 58:22; 26:193; 4:171). Before the revelation of Iqrâ’ إقراء(96:1-5) and the life-giving Message of the Qur’ân, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) did not know what the Divine Book was, and what faith it teaches. Nor did he know that the very concept of faith implies a human beings complete self-surrender to Allâh’s Will. He was not thinking or expecting to be made a Prophet or Messenger of Allâh.