وَإِن تُكَذِّبُوا۟ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أُمَمٌ مِّن قَبْلِكُمْ ۖ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ 18
Translations
And if you [people] deny [the message] - already nations before you have denied. And there is not upon the Messenger except [the duty of] clear notification.
Transliteration
Wa-in tukadhdhihu faqad kadhdhaba umamun min qablikum wa-ma 'ala ar-rasuli illa al-balagh al-mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah consoles Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by reminding him that rejection of the message is not unprecedented—many nations before rejected their messengers, yet the messenger's duty remains only to convey the message clearly. Ibn Kathir notes this verse emphasizes that the Prophet's responsibility is limited to clear communication of the Qur'an, not to force belief, as guidance is ultimately from Allah alone. Al-Qurtubi highlights that this provides solace during times of persecution and rejection the Prophet faced in Mecca.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. This surah was revealed when the Meccans rejected the Prophet's call, and this particular ayah contextualizes their rejection within the broader pattern of human history where previous nations also denied their messengers. It serves to strengthen the Prophet's resolve and comfort the believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them' (Sahih Bukhari 2652), illustrating how even the best generation faced rejection. Also related: 'There is no messenger whom Allah sent but that some of his people believed and some disbelieved' (Sahih Muslim 152).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing opposition or mockery for their faith should remember that rejection of divine messages is not personal failure but a recurring pattern in human history; our responsibility is only to convey the message with clarity and sincerity, while leaving the outcome to Allah's wisdom.
Related Ayahs
فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنۢبِهِۦ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَخَذَتْهُ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَغْرَقْنَا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
So each We seized for his sin; and among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast [from the sky], and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. And Allāh would not have wronged them, but it was they who were wronging themselves.
لِيَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمْ وَلِيَتَمَتَّعُوا۟ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
So that they will deny what We have granted them, and they will enjoy themselves. But they are going to know.
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَيْفَ يُبْدِئُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
Have they not considered how Allāh begins creation and then repeats it? Indeed that, for Allāh, is easy.
ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Allāh extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts for him. Indeed Allāh is, of all things, Knowing.