وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ لَئِن جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌ لَّيُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهَا ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا يُشْعِرُكُمْ أَنَّهَآ إِذَا جَآءَتْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 109
Translations
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths that if a sign came to them, they would surely believe in it. Say, "The signs are only with [i.e., from] Allāh." And what will make you perceive that even if it [i.e., a sign] came, they would not believe.
Transliteration
Wa-aqsamu billahi jahda aymanihim la-in jaaathum ayatun layuminunna biha. Qul innama al-ayatu inda Allah. Wa ma yushi'rukum annaha iza jaadat la yu'minun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers swore by Allah with the most solemn oaths that if a sign came to them, they would surely believe in it. However, Allah instructs the Prophet to tell them that the signs are entirely in Allah's authority and discretion, and that even if a sign were to come, there is no guarantee they would believe—their hearts may remain sealed in disbelief. This ayah exposes the hypocrisy and conditional faith of those who demand miracles while harboring obstinate hearts; Ibn Kathir notes that their oath itself is evidence of their insincerity, as true believers accept the signs already present in the Quran and creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am (a Meccan surah) and addresses the persistent demand of the Meccan polytheists for extraordinary miracles as proof of Muhammad's prophethood. The broader context of the surah deals with the rejection of the Prophet and the signs of Allah that surrounded them. This ayah specifically responds to their stubborn insistence: 'If only a sign would come, then we would believe'—a refrain repeated throughout the Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3894) and Sahih Muslim (2800) relates to the story of the she-camel of Salih as a clear sign that was rejected despite its miraculous nature, exemplifying how even undeniable signs do not guarantee belief when hearts are hardened. Another relevant hadith is in Muslim wherein the Prophet stated that people will continue to ask for signs, but even if all signs were given, they would not believe.
Themes
Key Lesson
True belief is not merely dependent on witnessing external signs; rather, it requires a sincere and open heart willing to accept guidance. The lesson for modern believers is to examine the sincerity of their own faith: are we demanding 'signs' to avoid personal commitment, or are we genuinely submitting to the guidance already available to us through the Quran and the natural world?
Related Ayahs
وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْـِٔدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And We will turn away their hearts and their eyes just as they refused to believe in it [i.e., the revelation] the first time. And We will leave them in their transgression, wandering blindly.
مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُۥ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَن جَآءَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰٓ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged.
ثُمَّ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تَمَامًا عَلَى ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَّعَلَّهُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Then We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good [i.e., Moses] and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in the meeting with their Lord they would believe.
وَذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَلَهْوًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَذَكِّرْ بِهِۦٓ أَن تُبْسَلَ نَفْسٌۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِىٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ وَإِن تَعْدِلْ كُلَّ عَدْلٍ لَّا يُؤْخَذْ مِنْهَآ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُبْسِلُوا۟ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ
And leave those who take their religion as amusement and diversion and whom the worldly life has deluded. But remind with it [i.e., the Qur’ān], lest a soul be given up to destruction for what it earned; it will have other than Allāh no protector and no intercessor. And if it should offer every compensation, it would not be taken from it [i.e., that soul]. Those are the ones who are given to destruction for what they have earned. For them will be a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment because they used to disbelieve.