وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 23
Translations
And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down [i.e., the Qur’ān] upon Our Servant [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)], then produce a sūrah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses [i.e., supporters] other than Allāh, if you should be truthful.
Transliteration
Wa-in kuntum fi raybim mimma nazzalna ala abdina fa-too bi-suratin min mithlihi wad-oo shuhada-akum min duni-Allah in kuntum sadiqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the Quranic challenge (al-tahaddi) to those who doubt the divine origin of the Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah invites the skeptics to produce even a single chapter (surah) like it and to call upon their witnesses and helpers if they are truthful in their claims that it is not from Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this challenge remains unanswered throughout history, serving as conclusive proof of the Quran's divine authorship and inimitable eloquence (i'jaz al-Quran).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (Medinan), revealed in response to the doubts and objections of the Meccan disbelievers and later the People of the Book in Medina who questioned the authenticity of the Quranic revelation. It establishes a fundamental logical challenge to all who deny the Quran's divine origin.
Related Hadiths
The miraculous nature of the Quran's inimitability is referenced in various hadiths; see Sunan Ibn Majah where scholars discuss the Quran's linguistic superiority. Additionally, hadith collections document how the Arabs of Quraysh were unable to meet this challenge despite their renowned eloquence.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the Quran's linguistic and spiritual perfection is tangible proof of its divine source, and encourages us to reflect on the Quran's matchless beauty as confirmation of faith. For those in doubt, it invites rational examination and honest acknowledgment of the truth rather than stubborn rejection.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيْسَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
The Jews say, "The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on," and the Christians say, "The Jews have nothing to stand on," although they [both] recite the Scripture. Thus do those who know not [i.e., the polytheists] speak the same as their words. But Allāh will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
۞ وَإِذِ ٱسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ فَقُلْنَا ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ ۖ فَٱنفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ ٱثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said, "Strike with your staff the stone." And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. "Eat and drink from the provision of Allāh, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
O you who have believed, eat from the good [i.e., lawful] things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allāh if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally."