The Ocean of the Quran

A verse by verse explanation of The Ultimate Scripture

Al-Najm – Verse 56

هٰذا نَذيرٌ مِنَ النُّذُرِ الأولىٰ

This is a warner, [in the tradition] of the warners of old.

EXEGESIS

Nadhīr (warner) has the meaning of mundhir, the one who gives warning. Such a person is one who informs others of possible harm so that they may take heed.‎[1] There are three possible referents here:

  1. Prophet Muhammad (s).‎[2] The expression warners of old would then mean the previous prophets.‎[3] In this sense it would mean that Prophet Muhammad (s) is a prophet like those before him, they too were human beings and they brought the same message.‎[4] In support of this it has been pointed out that the surah started with mentioning Prophet Muhammad (s) and it is fitting that it ends with it as well.‎[5]
  2. The Quran.‎[6] In this case, warners of old would mean the earlier scriptures, like the ṣuḥuf of Prophet Abraham (a) and Prophet Moses (a) referred to in verses 36-37. Rāzī critiques this, saying that the Quran is not like the previous scriptures and its miraculous nature sets it apart, therefore it should not be compared to them.‎[7] This could be solved by saying that what is meant is the warning in the Quran, which would then equate it to the third meaning.
  3. Warning.‎[8] In this sense, warner (nadhīr) would have a meaning similar to indhār (warning). This would be similar to its usage in the verse, soon you will know how My warning (nadhīr) has been (67:17). Warners of old would then include the mentioned events that transpired to previous nations like ʿĀd and Thamūd, which serve as a warning. They were warned and now so are you being warned in the same way. This is the most complete meaning as it combines the previous two; the warnings given by Prophet Muhammad (s) and the Quran both instruct man to take heed and in doing so avoid harm from befalling him.
[1] Tantawi, 14/88.
[2] Tibyan, 9/440; Tabari, 27/47; Razi, 29/28; Qurtubi, 17/121; Shawkani, 5/141; Mizan, 19/51.
[3] Tibyan, 9/440.
[4] Tabari, 27/47.
[5] Muhit, 10/28.
[6] Tibyan, 9/440; Razi, 29/285; Mizan, 19/51.
[7] Razi, 29/285.
[8] Tabrisi, 9/277; Tabari, 27/47; Zamakhshari, 4/429; Razi, 29/285.