وَلَقَد جاءَهُم مِنَ الأَنباءِ ما فيهِ مُزدَجَرٌ

There have already come to them reports containing admonishment.

EXEGESIS

Anbāʾ (reports) is the plural of nabaʾ which means important news.[1] Most exegetes understand this to be a reference to the reports about the previous nations who had denied the message of their prophets.[2] Some have suggested that it could also be referring to news about the hereafter and the Day of Judgement.[3] Perhaps both of these meanings are intended, for in the forthcoming verses the Day of Judgement is first discussed followed by descriptions of the previous nations. Some have even said that this is a reference to every verse in the Quran that contains a lesson, advice, encouragement, warning, or description of the way in which one ought to have faith in Allah and His Prophet.[4]

Muzdajar (admonishment) is an infinitive from the root verb zajara which means to prevent, to prohibit, and to stop. The original infinitive is muztajar on the standard of muftaʿal, however, the tāʾ has changed to dāl for the ease of pronunciation with rāʾ.[5] Based on the linguistic root, many exegetes understand muzdajar as admonishment, as understanding and pondering over those reports ought to prevent one from disbelief and being wayward.[6]

EXPOSITION

After discussing the reasons for their denial of the message, the next set of verses attempts to admonish the deniers and the polytheists by reminding them of what happened to the previous nations and how they met the consequences of their denial of the truth.

This verse can be seen as a prelude to the upcoming verses, which reiterate the news of the past nations as an admonishment (muzdajar). Thus, there is no shortcoming from the side of Allah or His Prophet when it comes to presenting proofs and admonishments.[7]

[1] Razi, 29/291.
[2] Daqaiq, 12/531; Mizan, 19/57.
[3] Daqaiq, 12/531; Mizan, 19/57.
[4] Kashif, 7/190.
[5] Tibyan, 9/444.
[6] Tabrisi, 9/283.
[7] Amthal, 17/301-302.