أَءُلْقِىَ ٱلذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنۢ بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌ 25
Translations
Has the message been sent down upon him from among us? Rather, he is an insolent liar."
Transliteration
A-alqiya adh-dhikru alayhi min bayninā bal huwa kadhdhābun ashir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse presents the arrogant objection of the Quraysh regarding Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), where they question why the revelation (al-dhikr) was specifically chosen for him alone from among them, suggesting instead that he is merely a liar and a proud, insolent person. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects the disbelievers' rejection rooted in envy and arrogance—they could not accept that Allah chose Muhammad for prophethood despite him being from their own people. The term 'ashir (أشِر) meaning 'proud' or 'insolent' reveals their attempt to demean his character while simultaneously revealing their own spiritual blindness to divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the Meccan period of Surah Al-Qamar, which extensively documents the arrogant responses of various ancient nations to their prophets, paralleling the Quraysh's rejection of Muhammad. The immediate context describes how the people of 'Aad, Thamud, and Pharaoh all rejected their messengers with similar prideful objections, establishing a pattern that the Quraysh were repeating in their own time.
Related Hadiths
The broader theme connects to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said, 'The most hated person to Allah is the arrogant one' (Abghad rajulin ila Allah al-mutakabbir). Additionally, Surah Al-Qamar's overall message aligns with verses in Sahih Bukhari regarding how envy and arrogance prevent people from accepting truth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that resistance to truth often stems not from logical reasoning but from arrogance, envy, and wounded pride—reminding modern believers to examine their own hearts for such obstacles to guidance, and to have patience with those who reject the message despite its clarity.