Transliteration:( Kitaabun unzila ilaika falaa yakun fee sadrika harajum minhu litunzira bihee wa zikraa lilmu'mineen )
"[This is] a Book that has been sent down to you, so let there be no [haraj: discomfort or doubt] in your heart because of it, so that you may warn with it, and [it is] an advice for the believers [2]."
By "no impediment" is meant: do not waver in its propagation, nor should there be any worry about the opposition of the infidels. Though this address is outwardly directed to the Holy Prophet ﷺ, in truth, it encompasses all the propagators of the Ummah. This is because the Holy Prophet ﷺ himself never hesitated or feared anyone in matters of truth and da’wah. His dignity is too lofty and exalted for such concerns. In fact, those upon whom he bestows spiritual grace become independent of worldly pressures, carrying the message with confidence.
By “advice for the believers,” it is meant that the Holy Qur’an specifically exhorts the Muslims towards righteous actions and moral refinement. The infidels are not the target of such advice, either because they reject its guidance, or because only the believers can truly benefit from its call. Alternatively, this phrase may imply that while the Qur’an is for all, only Muslims will take it to heart. Hence, there is no inconsistency in the message—its guidance is for the entire world, but its spiritual benefit is received by the faithful.
The tafsir of Surah Al-A’raf verse 2 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah A’raf ayat 1 which provides the complete commentary from verse 1 through 3.
(7:2) This is a Book revealed to you. [1] Let there be no impediment in your heart about it.[2] (It has been revealed to you) that you may thereby warn [the unbelievers], that it may be a reminder to the believers.[3]
1. The word ‘Book’, in this context, signifies this very surah, al-A’raf.
2. The Prophet (peace be on him) is directed to preach his Message without fear and hesitation, and to disregard his opponents’ response. Such opponents may well be offended by his preaching of the Message, or may, hold it to ridicule, or go about maliciously twisting it, or acting with greater hostility.All this notwithstanding, the Message of Islam must be preached.
The Arabic word haraj (which we have translated as straitness), signifies an intractable bush. (See Ibn Manzur. Lisan al ‘Arab and Firuzabadi, al-qamus, q.v. ‘Harajah’.) ‘Straitness or constriction in the breast’ refers to the reluctance of a person to go ahead in the face of opposition. The following Qur’anic verse would seem to allude to this mental state of the Prophet (peace he on him): We do indeed know how your heart feels distressed at what they say’ (Surah Al-Hijr, ayat 97). What painfully concerned the Prophet (peace be on him) was to find out how he could direct a people, whose adamance and opposition to truth had reached such high proportions, to the Right Way. The same state of mind is again reflected in the Qur’anic verse: ‘Perhaps you might feel inclined to part with a portion of what has been revealed to you, and your heart feels straitened lest they, say: “Why is a treasure not sent down unto him; or why does an angel not come with him?” ‘ (Surah Hud, ayat 12).
3. The main purpose of this surah is to jolt the people out of their heedlessness and to warn them of the dire consequences that will follow if they reject the call of the Prophet (peace be on him). Additionally , this surah also seeks to serve as a reminder to the belivers – a purpose which is achieved, incidentally, by the warning made to the unbelievers.
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