وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَكْثَرَ شَىْءٍ جَدَلًا 54
Translations
And We have certainly diversified in this Qur’ān for the people from every [kind of] example; but man has ever been, most of anything, [prone to] dispute.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad sarrafnā fī hādhā al-Qur'āni li-an-nāsi min kulli mathali wa-kāna al-insānu akthara shay'in jadali
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah has explained and presented in this Qur'an every kind of example and parable for mankind to understand the truth, yet human beings are inclined toward argumentation and dispute. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah emphasizes Allah's comprehensive guidance through varied examples, contrasting divine clarity with human propensity for quarreling. Al-Qurtubi highlights that despite abundant signs and parables, many reject truth due to argumentative nature, reflecting stubbornness rather than intellectual limitation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Kahf's Meccan period and follows the story of the People of the Cave. It contextualizes the surah's central theme: that Allah has provided abundant guidance through the Qur'an and its examples, yet the Meccan polytheists persistently disputed the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The ayah serves as a commentary on human nature's resistance to divine truth.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The most hateful person to Allah is the one most given to wrangling and disputing' (Sahih Muslim 2668). Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah emphasizes that excessive argumentation about religion leads hearts astray, relating directly to the human tendency for jadal (disputation) mentioned here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the problem preventing human acceptance of truth is not lack of clear explanation from Allah, but rather human stubbornness and love of dispute; believers should recognize this tendency within themselves and actively cultivate receptiveness to divine guidance over argumentative pride.
Related Ayahs
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ
And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me."
إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِۦٓ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا سَـَٔاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ ءَاتِيكُم بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
[Mention] when Moses said to his family, "Indeed, I have perceived a fire. I will bring you from there information or will bring you a burning torch that you may warm yourselves."
۞ لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَىٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
Not upon you, [O Muḥammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And whatever good you [believers] spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the face [i.e., approval] of Allāh. And whatever you spend of good - it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.