وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا كِذَّابًا 28
Translations
And denied Our verses with [emphatic] denial.
Transliteration
Wa kadhdhaboo bi-ayatina kidhdhaba
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the disbelievers of Mecca rejected Allah's signs with persistent and habitual denial (kidhdhaba denotes repeated, excessive lying). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase emphasizes the stubborn nature of their rejection—they did not simply disbelieve once, but repeatedly and deliberately denied the clear proofs despite their knowledge of the truth. This reflects the Quranic theme that rejection of divine signs stems not from ignorance alone, but from willful obstinacy and hardened hearts.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Naba is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists who mocked the Prophet Muhammad and rejected his message. This ayah appears in the latter portion of the surah (verses 27-30) where Allah describes the punishment awaiting those who persistently denied His signs and the message of the Hereafter.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The worst of people are those who deny the signs of Allah and the meeting with Him' (Sahih Bukhari 4694). Additionally, 'Whoever disputes concerning the signs of Allah without knowledge has only arrogance within themselves and no faith' (Surah Ghafir 40:35, referenced in tafsir literature as illustrating the attitude described in 78:28).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that denial of truth often stems from willful stubbornness rather than genuine confusion; therefore, we should examine our hearts for pride and resistance to guidance. It also serves as a warning that repeated rejection of signs hardens the heart further, making repentance increasingly difficult.
Related Ayahs
أَفَمِنْ هَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ
Then at this statement do you wonder?
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
So who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allāh or denies His signs? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.
۞ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَا ۗ لَقَدِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا
And those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Why were not angels sent down to us, or [why] do we [not] see our Lord?" They have certainly become arrogant within themselves and [become] insolent with great insolence.
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allāh and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped" [i.e., sealed against reception]. Rather, Allāh has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.