وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ فَأَبَىٰٓ أَكْثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ إِلَّا كُفُورًا 89
Translations
And We have certainly diversified for the people in this Qur’ān from every [kind of] example, but most of the people refused except disbelief.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad sarrrafnā li-n-nāsi fī hādhā l-qur'āni min kulli mathalin fa-abā aktharu n-nāsi illā kufūrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah states that He has presented in the Qur'an every type of example and parable for mankind in diverse and varied ways to facilitate understanding and guidance, yet the majority of people stubbornly reject the truth and persist in disbelief. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that despite Allah's provision of clear signs and multiple approaches to convey the message, human arrogance and heedlessness prevent acceptance. This ayah highlights the tragedy of choosing ingratitude (kufr) over divine guidance despite abundant evidence and clarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan chapter revealed during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. The context reflects the Meccan polytheists' persistent rejection despite numerous miracles and clear teachings, emphasizing that the Qur'an's clarity and comprehensiveness cannot be attributed to any deficiency in the message itself.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth; some of which is fertile land that absorbs water and brings forth vegetation and pasture in abundance...' (Sahih Bukhari 79). This hadith parallels the ayah's theme of varied receptivity to divine guidance despite its clarity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that clarity of divine truth does not guarantee acceptance, as choice and free will remain with humanity; our responsibility is to convey the message with wisdom and patience, understanding that ultimate guidance rests with Allah alone. For modern readers, it is a humbling reminder against despair in da'wah work and an encouragement to examine our own hearts for hidden arrogance that might prevent us from accepting truth.
Related Ayahs
قُل لَّوْ كَانَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَلَـٰٓئِكَةٌ يَمْشُونَ مُطْمَئِنِّينَ لَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَكًا رَّسُولًا
Say, "If there were upon the earth angels walking securely, We would have sent down to them from the heaven an angel [as a] messenger."
وَمَن كَانَ فِى هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَعْمَىٰ فَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَعْمَىٰ وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
And whoever is blind in this [life] will be blind in the Hereafter and more astray in way.
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ فَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ ٱلضُّرِّ عَنكُمْ وَلَا تَحْوِيلًا
Say, "Invoke those you have claimed [as gods] besides Him, for they do not possess the [ability for] removal of adversity from you or [for its] transfer [to someone else]."