قَالَ إِن كُنتَ جِئْتَ بِـَٔايَةٍ فَأْتِ بِهَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ 106
Translations
[Pharaoh] said, "If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you should be of the truthful."
Transliteration
Qala in kunta ji'ta bi-ayatin fa'ti biha in kunta mina as-sadiqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh responds to Moses' call to worship Allah alone by demanding he produce a miraculous sign (ayah) if he truly speaks the truth. This ayah captures Pharaoh's arrogant challenge, testing whether Moses can substantiate his prophetic claim. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that Pharaoh's demand, while superficially reasonable, stemmed from his spiritual blindness and denial, as he had already witnessed numerous signs and refused to believe.
Revelation Context
This verse occurs within the dialogue between Moses and Pharaoh in Surah Al-A'raf, which recounts the historical encounter when Moses came to Pharaoh with the message of monotheism. The broader context shows Pharaoh's successive rejections and demands for miracles, representing the archetypal conflict between divine truth and human arrogance and disbelief.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned in various ahadith (Sahih Muslim and others) that Moses performed clear miracles including the staff turning into a serpent and the splitting of the sea, validating the Quranic account of these events.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that those who deny truth often demand endless signs while remaining spiritually hardened; we should recognize that true guidance comes from sincere hearts willing to accept evidence, not from obstinate demands for proof when one's ego refuses submission to Allah's will.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [mention] when your Lord declared that He would surely [continue to] send upon them until the Day of Resurrection those who would afflict them with the worst torment. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.
۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.
فَلَنَسْـَٔلَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَنَسْـَٔلَنَّ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
Then We will surely question those to whom [a message] was sent, and We will surely question the messengers.