Tafseer of The Thunder · Ar-Ra'd · 13:37
And thus We have revealed it as an Arabic legislation. And if you should follow their inclinations after what has come to you of knowledge, you would not have against Allah any ally or any protector.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted says: and just as We sent down to you, O Muḥammad, the Book, and some factions rejected it, so too did We send down the judgment and the religion as an Arabic judgment. He named it "Arabic" and characterized it thus because it descended upon Muḥammad ﷺ, and he was an Arab — so the religion was ascribed to him because it was sent down upon him. And the factions denied it.
Then the Exalted forbade him from abandoning that which had been revealed to him and from following the factions, and threatened him with that if he were to do so. He said: وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ O Muḥammad أَهْوَاءَهُمْ the desires of these factions, their wishes, and their love, and you have deviated from your religion to their religion — then there is none who can protect you from the punishment of Allah if He punishes you for following their desires, and there is no helper for you who can save you from Allah if He punishes you. He says: so beware of following their desires.
