قَالُوا۟ نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ 113
Translations
They said, "We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses."
Transliteration
Qālū nurīdu an na'kula minhā wa-tatma'inna qulūbunā wa-na'lama an qad sadaqtanā wa-nakūnu 'alayhā mina ash-shāhidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disciples of Jesus respond to his prayer for the table spread (al-ma'idah) from heaven, expressing their desire to eat from it as a sign that will bring certainty to their hearts and serve as evidence of his truthfulness. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their request reflects a human need for tangible proof and reassurance of faith, demonstrating that even the closest believers sought concrete signs to strengthen their conviction. The phrase 'we may be among the witnesses' indicates their desire to testify to this miracle for those who come after them.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative about the Ma'idah (table spread from heaven) requested by the disciples of Jesus. The broader context in Surah Al-Ma'idah discusses the covenant of the disciples and their commitment to faith. This incident is unique to the Quran and serves to illustrate the disciples' humanity—their need for reassurance despite their proximity to Jesus—and ultimately God's provision for those who believe.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific Quranic event, the concept relates to Surah Al-Bayyinah 98:1 regarding clear proofs. Additionally, hadiths about the Prophet's miracles (e.g., in Sahih Bukhari) demonstrate the Quranic principle that signs and miracles strengthen faith when witnessed directly.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that seeking signs to strengthen faith is a natural human response, and that God compassionately provides evidence for believers; for contemporary readers, it reminds us that faith can coexist with the human need for understanding and reassurance, and that witnessing truth should inspire us to testify and share it with others.
Related Ayahs
۞ تِلْكَ ٱلرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۘ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ
Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allāh spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel]. If Allāh had willed, those [generations] succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allāh had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allāh does what He intends.
۞ لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِى يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِۦٓ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ
Certainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask, [such as]
ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ
It is the piercing star
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ إِذْ يَتَنَـٰزَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَـٰنًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allāh is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."