Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder)

7. “And those who disbelieve say: ‘Why has there not been sent down a sign to him from his Lord? (O’ Prophet!) You are only a Warner, and there is a guide for every people.”

Ibn Abbas has been quoted to say that the blissful Prophet (S) putting his hand on his chest, said: /’anal munŏir/ (I am the Warner), and then alluding to Ali-Ibn-Abi-Talib (as), he said:

“You are the guide, those who will be guided after me will be guided through you.”1

Here, the holy verse deals with one of the criticisms of the obstinate pagans concerning the prophecy, saying that Allah did not send the Prophet (S) with miracles or signs.

The verse says:

“And those who disbelieve say: ‘Why has there not been sent down a sign to him from his Lord?…”

It goes without saying that one of the functions of the Prophet (S) is to present miracles as documentation for his legitimacy and his actual interconnection with the Divine revelation.

However, the opponents of the prophets have not always been entertaining sound intentions. That is, they did not seek miracles for the sake of discovering the truth but, to show their arrogance and disobedience against the Truth, every time they asked for an odd miracle.

So, when facing such individuals, the Prophet (S), without accepting their desires, used to say that performing miracles is in Allah’s hands and it is by His commands that such things happen; then his duty was to guide and train people.

Therefore, in response to these vain requests, the Qur’an continues telling the Prophet (S) that he is only a Warner and to provide people with instructions and guidance.

The verse says:

“…(O’ Prophet!) You are only a Warner…”

In actual fact, the Qur’an implies that these pagans have forgotten the primary objective of the prophet which is the issue of admonition and calling of people towards Allah. They have wrong thought that his primary function has been to perform miracles.

It is interesting to note that the difference between the Qur’anic terms /’inŏar/ and /hid ayat/ is that, the former relates to the leading of the misled to the right path and providing them with self-awareness, while the latter deals with guiding people and directing them forward after they have adjusted their way in the right direction.

Therefore, in various quotations from the Prophet (S) in the books of Shi‘ite and Sunni people, it is quoted that he said: he provided admonitions and Ali was the leader, by whom the guided are guided.

We have it in 26 traditions that, the objective meaning of /h ad/ (guide) is the Immaculate Imams (as).