Tafsir of Sad 38:70

This is a parenthetical statement inserted between the summary of their dispute and its details, to establish the certainty of his knowledge (peace and blessings be upon him) and to specify its cause. Since the previous negation of his knowledge implied its affirmation at the present time, and given that it is evident he was not associated with any of the conventional means for acquiring such knowledge, it is definitively established that it could only have come by way of revelation. Thus, this point is treated as a settled matter, self-evident and not requiring a deliberate proclamation. The point of interest is instead to inform them of the reason that necessitates and validates this revelation.

The deputy agent (nā’ib al-fā‘il) for the passive verb yūḥā is either a pronoun referring to an implicit concept—as previously indicated—or to that which encompasses it and others. The meaning is: "Nothing is revealed to me regarding the state of the High Council, or nothing of the unseen matters—of which their state is one—is revealed to me for any reason, except that I am a clear warner from Him, the Exalted." For his being a warner (peace and blessings be upon him) is among the primary reasons for revelation being sent to him and serves to validate it.

It is also possible that the deputy agent is the source understood from yūḥā; that is, "Nothing of the act of revealing is performed upon me regarding the state of the High Council, or any of the matters of the unseen, except that I am a warner..."

It has further been suggested that the prepositional phrase (jār wa-majrūr) serves as the deputy agent, with an implied lām (as in li-annī). In al-Kashf, it is stated: The meaning of the restriction is that nothing was revealed to him except for the sole purpose that he is a clear warner—and what a warner he is! It is like saying: "You were not appointed a judge, so-and-so, except because you are a scholar, a practitioner, and a guide."

Al-Zamakhshari allowed that the lām might be omitted and the phrase stands in the place of the agent. The meaning of the restriction then becomes: "I have not been commanded with this matter alone, to the exclusion of all else," because this command encompasses all other commands, either by inclusion or by necessity; or, "I have not been commanded with anything except to warn you, not to force your guidance or prevent your obstinacy, for that is not within my power." The first explanation is more fitting for the nature of a parenthetical clause, as is not hidden from one who possesses an understanding of subtle points.

Abu Ja‘far recited innamā with a kasra (innamā), acting as a quotation; that is, "Nothing is revealed to me except this statement," and its revelation to him consists of the command given to him (peace and blessings be upon him) to utter it. The summary of the meaning of the restriction is close to what was mentioned previously. It has also been suggested that the meaning is: "I have not been commanded to say anything to you other than this, rather than saying that I know the unseen without revelation." Reflect upon this and be not heedless.