وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُنَزِّلَ ءَايَةً وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 37
Translations
And they say, "Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "Indeed, Allāh is Able to send down a sign, but most of them do not know."
Transliteration
Wa qaaloo lawlaa nuzzila alayhi aayatun min rabbihi qul inna Allaha qadirun ala an yunazzila ayatan wa laakinna aktharahu m laa yaalamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers of Mecca demanded a miraculous sign from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as proof of his prophethood, but Allah responds through the Prophet that Allah is certainly capable of sending signs, yet most of them lack the knowledge and understanding to recognize or accept them. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain that this refusal to send additional signs was a divine wisdom, as the Quran itself is the greatest miracle, and those who reject it would reject even tangible miracles, as evidenced by the stories of other prophets in the same surah.
Revelation Context
This ayah addresses the persistent demands of the Meccan polytheists who sought physical miracles to validate Muhammad's prophecy, despite being presented with the eloquent Quran. It occurs within Surah Al-An'am's broader theme of refuting idolatry and affirming Allah's oneness, reflecting the challenges the Prophet faced during the Meccan period when miraculous signs were repeatedly demanded.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself is referenced as the greatest miracle in multiple hadiths, including statements in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet emphasized that every prophet was given miracles, but he was given the Quran. Additionally, stories throughout Surah Al-An'am (verses 36-91) illustrate how previous peoples rejected prophets despite witnessing clear signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that signs and miracles are abundant from Allah, but true faith requires intellectual honesty and sincere seeking of truth—obstinate hearts will find reasons to reject even the clearest evidences. For believers, it reinforces that the Quran itself is the supreme sign of Allah's guidance, requiring no external validation.
Related Ayahs
قَدْ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً قَالُوا۟ يَـٰحَسْرَتَنَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِيهَا وَهُمْ يَحْمِلُونَ أَوْزَارَهُمْ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِمْ ۚ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ
Those will have lost who deny the meeting with Allāh, until when the Hour [of resurrection] comes upon them unexpectedly, they will say, "Oh, [how great is] our regret over what we neglected concerning it [i.e., the Hour]," while they bear their burdens [i.e., sins] on their backs. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.
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.
وَأَنذِرْ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَن يُحْشَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۙ لَيْسَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ وَلِىٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
And warn by it [i.e., the Qur’ān] those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord - for them besides Him will be no protector and no intercessor - that they might become righteous.
مَّن يُصْرَفْ عَنْهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمَهُۥ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
He from whom it is averted that Day - [Allāh] has granted him mercy. And that is the clear attainment.