أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Al A’raf – The Heights (7:1-3)

7:1
الٓمٓصٓ ١

Alif-Lãm-Mĩm-Ṣãd.

7:2
كِتَـٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌۭ مِّنْهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٢

˹This is˺ a Book sent down to you ˹O Prophet˺—do not let anxiety into your heart regarding it—so with it you may warn ˹the disbelievers˺, and as a reminder to the believers.

7:3
ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٣

Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not take others as guardians besides Him. How seldom are you mindful!
https://quran.com/7/1-3

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In the phrase فَلَا يَكُن فِي صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ found in the first verse, the address is directed to the Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him), reassuring him that the Quran is a divine revelation sent down to him. The term حَرَج (haraj), translated here as “constraint,” implies that he should not feel any distress, anxiety, or hesitation in conveying the Quran and its commandments, even if people reject or oppose him.

The duty with which he has been obligated is simply to make the call and convey the message. Once this is done, it is not his responsibility to see who becomes a Muslim and who does not. Therefore, there was no reason for him to be anxious. This can be further reinforced in Surah Taha:

Ta-Ha (20:1-5)

20:1
طه ١

Ṭâ-Hâ.

20:2
مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِتَشْقَىٰٓ ٢

We have not revealed the Quran to you ˹O Prophet˺ to cause you distress,

20:3
إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةًۭ لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ ٣

but as a reminder to those in awe ˹of Allah˺.

20:4
تَنزِيلًۭا مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ ٱلْعُلَى ٤

˹It is˺ a revelation from the One Who created the earth and the high heavens—

20:5
ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱسْتَوَىٰ ٥

the Most Compassionate, ˹Who is˺ established on the Throne.
https://quran.com/20/1-5

The word لِتَشْقَىٰ is derived from شقاء which means pain and distress. This verse also suggests that the duty of the Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) is merely to convey the Message of Allah Ta` ala to the disbelievers, and thereafter he need not concern himself as to who accepted the Message and who did not. And this applies to us who propagate to others as well. May Allah strengthen our resolve and remove all impediments in our path as we engage in da’wah, InshaAllah.

In the near future, we will explore the authority and purpose of the Quran, إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ (InshaAllah, Allah’s will). This discussion will cover the divine nature of the Quran, the commandment to recite it, and its distinct characteristics that make it the ultimate source of guidance for humanity.