وَإِذْ قَالُوا۟ ٱللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَـٰذَا هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَوِ ٱئْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ 32
Translations
And [remember] when they said, "O Allāh, if this should be the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment."
Transliteration
Wa-idh qaaluu allahumma in kana hadha huwa al-haqqu min indika fa-amtir alaina hijarah min al-sama'i awi'tina bi-adhab alim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the arrogant challenge of the Meccan disbelievers who mockingly demanded that Allah send down stones from the sky or inflict them with a painful punishment if the Qur'an were truly from Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the height of their defiance and stubborn rejection of the truth, as they essentially dared Allah to prove the message through immediate divine punishment. Their sarcasm and mockery reveal their hearts' hardness and their refusal to accept the signs already presented to them.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the surah's discussion of the Battle of Badr and the attitudes of the Meccan polytheists. The context reflects the Quraysh's persistent denial and their rejection of the Prophet Muhammad's message despite numerous proofs. It illustrates the psychological state of those who witnessed miracles and clear signs yet continued in their disbelief.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the mockers of his message and how Allah's punishment came upon them, exemplifying how some of these mockers were indeed killed at Badr. Also relevant is the general hadith principle that mocking Allah and His signs brings divine punishment (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a timeless reminder that arrogant defiance and sarcasm toward truth do not shield one from accountability; rather, those who mock Allah's signs and deliberately close their hearts to guidance face inevitable consequences. For believers today, it emphasizes the importance of approaching divine revelation with humility and sincerity rather than pride.