أَفَبِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ 81
Translations
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
Transliteration
Afa-bihādha al-ḥadīth antum mudhnūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question rebuking those who treat the Qur'an with indifference or neglect despite its profound truth. The word 'mudhnūn' (مدهنون) means those who are heedless, dismissive, or lukewarm in their attitude. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as Allah's challenge to disbelievers and those who half-heartedly receive the divine message, emphasizing that such an important revelation demands complete conviction and serious engagement, not casual dismissal.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Waqi'ah, which describes the Day of Judgment and categorizes people into three groups based on their deeds. The broader context emphasizes the certainty of the resurrection and challenges those in Mecca who rejected the Qur'an despite its clear signs. This specific verse confronts the Arabs' tendency to acknowledge the Qur'an's eloquence while refusing to accept its message and act upon it.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'Whoever listens to a verse from the Book of Allah and believes in it, Allah will admit him to Paradise' (at-Tirmidhi), highlighting the necessity of sincere reception of the Qur'an.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that receiving divine guidance demands wholehearted commitment and genuine engagement, not superficial acknowledgment or indifference. For modern believers, it encourages sincere reflection on whether we treat the Qur'an as merely beautiful literature or as a life-transforming divine message that requires our complete conviction and obedience.