بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُؤْتَىٰ صُحُفًا مُّنَشَّرَةً 52
Translations
Rather, every person among them desires that he would be given scriptures spread about.
Transliteration
Bal yurid kullu imri'in minhum an yu'ta suhufan munasharah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah criticizes the stubbornness and unreasonable demands of the disbelievers, who desire personal, individualized written revelations directly from Allah rather than accepting the Quran brought by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects the arrogance of the Meccan disbelievers who rejected the clear message of the Quran, instead making impossible demands as an excuse to deny faith. Al-Qurtubi notes that this ayah illustrates how those determined to disbelieve will always find pretexts, as they prefer their own whims over the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Muddaththir, a Meccan surah revealed early in the Prophet's mission. It addresses the obstinacy of the Meccan polytheists who continuously rejected the Quran despite its clarity and eloquence. The broader context of this surah condemns those who turn away from the message and seek excuses to avoid submission to Allah's will.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself responds to similar demands in Surah Al-An'am (6:124): 'And when there comes to them a sign, they say, We will not believe until we are given like that which was given to the messengers of Allah.' This reflects the recurring pattern of disbelievers making unreasonable demands that mirrors the hadith principle that hearts are sealed when people persistently reject guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that those who genuinely seek truth will embrace the clear signs Allah has provided, while those who seek excuses will always find them—the problem lies not in the message but in the hardened heart. We should guard ourselves against the disease of stubbornness and instead submit humbly to the guidance we have been given.