قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ 76
Translations
Said those who were arrogant, "Indeed we, in that which you have believed, are disbelievers."
Transliteration
Qala alladhina istakbaru inna bi-alladhee amantu bihi kafiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
The arrogant ones among the people of Salih rejected his message, declaring their disbelief in what he and his followers believed. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah illustrates the stubbornness of those who possess wealth and power, using their arrogance as a barrier to accepting divine guidance. Their rejection was not based on rational argument but on pride and unwillingness to accept a message that challenged their worldly status.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Salih and the Thamud people in Surah Al-A'raf. The context depicts the confrontation between Salih, who called his people to monotheism and righteousness, and the chiefs and nobles who arrogantly rejected him. This was revealed in Mecca to console the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by showing that rejection of prophets was not new, and that the arrogant always oppose divine truth.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself in Surah Al-A'raf 7:88 directly follows with the disbelievers saying they would drive out the believers from their land. Additionally, Surah Ghafir 40:34-35 relates thematically: those with arrogance dispute the signs of Allah, but 'Indeed, those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah without authority having come to them - there is not in their breasts except pride.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Arrogance and attachment to worldly status are among the greatest veils preventing hearts from accepting divine truth; believers must remain humble and recognize that rejection of guidance often stems not from intellectual objection but from spiritual disease of the soul.