Quran Universe
38:87

إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

In huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena

It is but a reminder to the worlds.

Word by word
  1. إِنۡNot
  2. هُوَit (is)
  3. إِلَّاexcept
  4. ذِكۡرٞa Reminder
  5. لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَto the worlds
Sad · 38:87Makkah

It is only a reminder for all the worlds.

The surah opened with a reminder and closes with one

Who it is for
the Qurana reminder
for
humans and jinnall held accountable
whoever it reachesincluding you
Who it is addressed to
people back thenin Makkah
everyone it reachestoday as well

Ibn Abbas said the Quran is a reminder for all who are held accountable, humans and jinn. Ibn Kathir links it to the verse: that I may warn you and whomever it reaches. The surah began with an oath by the Quran full of reminding, and ends here.

You have read this surah on your phone, in a language far from Makkah, centuries later. It reached you. That makes it yours.

This was addressed to people long ago.

It is a reminder for everyone it reaches, and it has reached me.

Try this

Share one verse from this surah with someone, with its meaning, today.

Related6:1911:17
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 38:86)

Say: "No wage do I ask of you for this, nor am I one of the Mutakallifin. (86)"It is only a Reminder for all the creatures. (87)"And you shall certainly know the truth of it after a while. (88)

Allah says: 'Say, O Muhammad, to these idolators: I do not ask you to give me any reward from the goods of this world in return for the Message which I convey to you and the sincere advice I offer.'

وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ

(nor am I one of the Mutakallifin.) means, 'and I do not add anything to that which Allah has told me. Whatever I am commanded to do, I do it, and I do not add anything or take anything away. By doing this I am seeking the Face of Allah and the Hereafter.'

Sufyan Ath-Thawri, narrated from Al-A'mash and Mansur from Abu Ad-Duha that Masruq said, "We went to 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him. He said, 'O people! Whoever knows a thing should say it, and whoever does not know should say, 'Allah knows best.'" It is part of knowledge, when one does not know, to say "Allah knows best." For Allah said to your Prophet ﷺ:

قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ

(Say: "No wage do I ask of you for this, nor am I one of the Mutakallifin.") This was reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ

(It is only a Reminder for all the creatures.) means, the Qur'an is a reminder for all those who are held accountable, men and Jinn. This was the view of Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him. This Ayah is like the Ayat:

لِأُنْذِرَكُمْ بِهِ وَمَنْ بَلَغَ

(that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach)(6:19), and

وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ ۚ 

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

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ

(And you shall certainly know the truth of it) means, 'you will see confirmation that what he says is true.'

بَعْدَ حِينٍ

(after a while.) means, soon. Qatadah said, "After death. 'Ikrimah said, "It means, on the Day of Resurrection." There is no contradiction between the two views, because whoever dies comes under the rulings of the Day of Resurrection.

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Sad. All praise and gratitude is due to Allah, and Allah may He be glorified and exalted, knows best.