أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا۟ فِيهِ ٱخْتِلَـٰفًا كَثِيرًا 82
Translations
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’ān? If it had been from [any] other than Allāh, they would have found within it much contradiction.
Transliteration
Afala yataddabbarun al-Qur'ana wa law kana min indi ghayri Allah lawajadu fihi ikhtilafan kathira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah challenges the listener to reflect deeply upon the Qur'an and presents its internal consistency as proof of its divine origin. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that the absence of contradictions despite the Qur'an addressing diverse topics, audiences, and circumstances over 23 years of revelation demonstrates its supernatural origin, as any human composition would inevitably contain discrepancies and inconsistencies.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during a period of intense dialogue with the People of the Book and polytheists who questioned the Qur'an's authenticity. This ayah serves as a rational argument within Surah An-Nisa's broader themes of guidance, refutation of false claims, and the establishment of Islamic jurisprudence and social order.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'Whoever reflects upon the Qur'an seeking guidance, Allah will guide his heart' (attributed to various sources emphasizing the importance of tadabbur - deep reflection).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are invited to engage the Qur'an not passively but with active intellectual reflection, and the coherence found within its verses despite addressing complex matters over decades serves as a timeless proof of its divine source—encouraging modern Muslims to study the Qur'an deeply and find in it answers to their spiritual and intellectual questions.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًا
And whoever obeys Allāh and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allāh has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا
But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muḥammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allāh purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed].
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَٱبْعَثُوا۟ حَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِۦ وَحَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن يُرِيدَآ إِصْلَـٰحًا يُوَفِّقِ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًا
And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allāh will cause it between them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Aware.