بَلْ عَجِبْتَ وَيَسْخَرُونَ 12
Translations
But you wonder, while they mock,
Transliteration
Bal 'ajibta wa yaskhirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), stating that he marvels at the disbelievers' rejection of the message while they mock and ridicule him in return. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah conveys that despite the clarity of the signs and the truth of the message, the disbelievers persist in mockery rather than reflection, which itself is a cause for wonder. This reflects the stubbornness of those who reject faith despite evidence, a recurring theme throughout Surah As-Saffat.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period when the Prophet faced intense ridicule and mockery from the Quraysh for his message of monotheism. The surah's broader context addresses the disbelievers' denial of resurrection, the Day of Judgment, and their mocking attitude toward the Prophet's warnings, making this a direct address to the Prophet about their response to his call.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Sahih Bukhari (6088) where the Prophet described how the disbelievers would mock him, and to various hadiths in Sahih Muslim about the patience required when facing ridicule for spreading the faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are reminded that rejection and mockery of the truth, even when clear evidence is presented, reflects the spiritual blindness of the rejecters rather than any fault in the message itself. This teaches patience and steadfastness in conveying the truth, understanding that some will ridicule regardless of clarity, which itself demonstrates the justice of Divine judgment.