وَلَا يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئْنَـٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تَفْسِيرًا 33
Translations
And they do not come to you with an example [i.e., argument] except that We bring you the truth and the best explanation.
Transliteration
Wa lā ya'tūnaka bi-mathali illā ji'nāka bi-al-ḥaqqi wa-aḥsana tafsīrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that whenever the disbelievers bring forth an argument or example (mathal) against the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran, Allah provides him with the truth (al-haqq) and a better explanation (tafsir). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as Allah's promise to protect the Quran and provide decisive refutations to all objections raised by opponents. The ayah demonstrates the superiority of Quranic arguments and the Prophet's eloquence in responding to criticism.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan (The Criterion), a Meccan surah revealed during the period of intense opposition to the Prophet. The surah addresses the objections and arguments raised by the Meccan polytheists against the Quran's message, making this ayah part of Allah's reassurance to the Prophet that He would enable him to refute every false claim.
Related Hadiths
While no single hadith directly quotes this ayah, it relates thematically to the Prophet's demonstrated ability in debate and argumentation. Refer to the accounts in Sahih Bukhari and Sirah Ibn Hisham detailing the Prophet's interactions with various delegations and skeptics, where he systematically refuted their objections with clear evidence.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reassures believers that truth ultimately prevails over falsehood—when faced with objections to Islam, the Quran and authentic knowledge provide superior and more comprehensive answers. It encourages Muslims to engage thoughtfully with criticism, trusting that clarity and truth are inherent in the Islamic message.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَإِنَّهُۥ يَتُوبُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَتَابًا
And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allāh with [accepted] repentance.
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ مَا كَانَ يَنۢبَغِى لَنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِن مَّتَّعْتَهُمْ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَسُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا
They will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies [i.e., protectors]. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined."
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ جُمْلَةً وَٰحِدَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَـٰهُ تَرْتِيلًا
And those who disbelieve say, "Why was the Qur’ān not revealed to him all at once?" Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.
وَٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً لَّا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلَا حَيَوٰةً وَلَا نُشُورًا
But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing, while they are created, and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not [power to cause] death or life or resurrection.