وَمَا تَأْتِيهِم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍ مِّنْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ 4
Translations
And no sign comes to them from the signs of their Lord except that they turn away therefrom.
Transliteration
Wa maa ta'teehim min 'ayatin min 'ayaati rabbihim illa kanu 'anha mu'rideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the obstinate rejection of the Meccan polytheists toward the signs (miracles and revelations) of Allah presented to them through the Prophet Muhammad. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, despite the clarity and abundance of divine signs—whether miracles, the Quran itself, or natural phenomena—these people deliberately turned away and ignored them due to their spiritual blindness and hardened hearts. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this aversion was not due to lack of evidence but to their arrogant refusal to submit to monotheism, which threatened their worldly status and practices.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader Meccan context where the Prophet faced continuous rejection from the Quraysh despite performing miracles and delivering clear warnings. Within Surah Al-An'am, this verse contributes to the recurring theme of how the disbelievers consistently rejected the proofs of Allah's oneness, setting the stage for discussions about accountability and divine justice that follow in the surah.
Related Hadiths
The theme of rejection despite clear signs is reflected in Sahih Bukhari (3392) where the Prophet said: 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth,' emphasizing that despite the clarity of the message, hearts determine whether they will receive it. Also relevant is Muslim (2157) regarding those who turn away from truth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that divine guidance and evidence are only beneficial to those who genuinely seek truth with humble hearts; mere intellectual recognition without sincere submission is worthless. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder to examine our own hearts for signs of aversion toward divine guidance and to cultivate openness to Allah's signs in both revelation and creation.