قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُم بِهِۦ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثْلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 10
Translations
Say, "Have you considered: if it [i.e., the Qur’ān] was from Allāh, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant...?" Indeed, Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
Transliteration
Qul ara'aytum in kana min 'indi Allah wa kafartum bihi wa shahida shahidun min bani Isra'il 'ala mithlihi fa'amana wa istakbartum. Inna Allah la yahdil-qawma adh-dhalimin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is commanded to ask the disbelievers: if the Quran is truly from Allah and you reject it, yet a witness from the Children of Israel (referring to 'Abdullah ibn Salam and others who converted to Islam) testifies to the truth of the Quran based on their knowledge of the Torah, would you then believe? Yet you arrogantly reject it. Ibn Kathir notes this challenges the Meccan polytheists' objections while highlighting that even People of the Book recognized the Quran's divine origin. The ayah concludes that Allah does not guide those who persist in wrongdoing and arrogance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ahqaf revealed in Mecca during the period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. The broader context addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Quran and challenges their obstinacy by presenting the testimony of those from among the Children of Israel who embraced Islam, demonstrating that even those with prior scriptural knowledge recognized the Quran's authenticity.
Related Hadiths
The conversion of 'Abdullah ibn Salam is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari (3942) where he testifies to the Prophet's prophethood and the Quran's divine origin despite his previous Jewish scholarship. Additionally, the principle of arrogance preventing guidance is reinforced in the hadith: 'The most hated person to Allah is the most arrogant' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4174).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that truth can be recognized by sincere seekers regardless of their background, and that arrogance and prejudice are the primary obstacles to accepting guidance; believers should reflect on whether pride or ego prevents them from recognizing and following divine truth in their lives.