بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ 6
Translations
Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].
Transliteration
Bi-ayyi-kum al-maftun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Allah's oath at the beginning of Surah Al-Qalam, where He swears by the Pen and what the angels write. The phrase means 'which of you is afflicted with madness' or 'possessed by madness,' and refers to the false accusations made by the Quraysh against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this is Allah's rhetorical challenge to the disbelievers, asserting that the Prophet is certainly not mad (maftun) as they claimed, but rather it is they who are deluded and astray. The ayah serves as a direct refutation of the Meccan polytheists' primary accusation against the Prophet.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Qaram was revealed in Mecca during the early period of the Prophet's mission, when the Quraysh were intensely opposing him. The accusation of madness was one of their main tactics to discredit the Prophet's message. This ayah directly addresses and refutes that slander, establishing the Prophet's soundness of mind and the divine origin of his message.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari where Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) defended the Prophet against such accusations, affirming his complete mental soundness and wisdom. Additionally, hadith collections record that the Prophet's enemies called him 'majnun' (possessed by jinn/mad), which this ayah refutes directly.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that false accusations and slander against those conveying truth are signs of the accuser's spiritual blindness, not the bearer of truth. It encourages steadfastness in faith despite mockery and misrepresentation, reminding us that Allah's truth will ultimately be vindicated.