قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِكِتَـٰبٍ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ مِنْهُمَآ أَتَّبِعْهُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 49
Translations
Say, "Then bring a scripture from Allāh which is more guiding than either of them that I may follow it, if you should be truthful."
Transliteration
Qul fa'too bi-kitaab min 'indi Allah huwa ahda minhuma attabi'hu in kuntum sadiqeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to challenge the disbelievers of Mecca to produce a book from Allah that is more guided than the Quran if they claim to be truthful in their objections. This ayah emphasizes the Quran's unparalleled eloquence and divine guidance as definitive proof of its authenticity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this as a powerful challenge to the Arabs, who were masters of language, yet none could produce anything comparable to the Quran's literary and spiritual excellence.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-Qasas, which addresses the Meccan disbelievers' rejection of the Quran and the Prophet. The surah presents narratives (stories) of previous prophets to reinforce the Quran's message. This specific verse serves as a direct challenge to those who questioned the Quran's divine origin, compelling them to either accept it or produce an equivalent revelation—an impossible task that underscores the Quran's miraculous nature (i'jaz al-Quran).
Related Hadiths
The miracle of the Quran's inimitability is referenced in various hadiths, such as in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet challenged the Arabs to produce even ten surahs like the Quran (referencing 2:23). Additionally, there are hadiths emphasizing that the Quran is the greatest miracle given to any prophet.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the Quran's superiority lies not merely in its claims but in its undeniable excellence that can be verified by reason and reflection. For modern believers, it reinforces that challenging the Quran's authenticity requires producing something equal to it—an impossible standard that invites sincere seekers to recognize its divine origin and submit to its guidance.
Related Ayahs
فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
So he watered [their flocks] for them; then he went back to the shade and said, "My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need."
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن جَآءَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنْ عِندِهِۦ وَمَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And Moses said, "My Lord is more knowing [than we or you] of who has come with guidance from Him and to whom will be succession in the home. Indeed, wrongdoers do not succeed."
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرِى فَأَوْقِدْ لِى يَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلطِّينِ فَٱجْعَل لِّى صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَطَّلِعُ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Hāmān, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars."
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُؤْتَوْنَ أَجْرَهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured and [because] they avert evil through good, and from what We have provided them they spend.