إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا وَمَا نَحْنُ لَهُۥ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ 38
Translations
He is not but a man who has invented a lie about Allāh, and we will not believe him."
Transliteration
In huwa illa rajulun iftara 'ala-Allah kathiba wa ma nahnu lahu bi-mu'mineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers of Makkah dismiss the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as merely a man who has fabricated lies against Allah, and they refuse to believe in him or his message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse captures the arrogant rejection of the Quraysh who attributed false motives to the Prophet, denying his truthfulness despite the clear signs and eloquence of the Qur'an. This statement represents the ultimate cognitive dissonance of those who reject divine guidance—they acknowledge his humanity while simultaneously denying the possibility that Allah would send a human messenger.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Mu'minun (revealed in Makkah), which describes the characteristics of the believers and the fate of the disbelievers. The context reflects the early Meccan period when the Quraysh vehemently opposed the Prophet's message, using personal attacks and accusations of deception as their primary defense against the clear arguments of monotheism presented in the Qur'an.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.' This relates to the theme of accepting divine guidance versus rejecting it. Also relevant is the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah where the Prophet mentioned that those who reject the message will have no excuse before Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejection of truth often stems not from intellectual doubt but from spiritual blindness and arrogance; we should be merciful toward those who disbelieve, understanding that only Allah guides hearts, while maintaining firm conviction in the truthfulness of the Prophet and his message.