فَأْتُوا۟ بِكِتَـٰبِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 157
Translations
Then produce your scripture, if you should be truthful.
Transliteration
Fa'too bikitabikum in kuntum sadiqeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, part of Allah's address to the idolaters and those who associate partners with Him, challenges them to produce their written proof or authority for their claims about shirk (associating partners with Allah). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this is a rhetorical challenge demanding concrete evidence for their false beliefs, emphasizing that claims without proof are baseless and that truth must be substantiated. The ayah underscores the superiority of Islamic monotheism, which stands on clear evidence and divine revelation, unlike the arbitrary religious practices of the polytheists.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah As-Saffat, revealed during the early period of Islam when the Quraysh and other Arabs were firmly attached to idolatry and polytheism. The broader context addresses the foolishness of polytheism and those who deny resurrection and the Oneness of Allah, challenging them intellectually to justify their position. The surah's theme revolves around refuting false beliefs and establishing monotheism through logical argumentation.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah Al-Anbiya (21:24) contains a similar challenge: 'Say, 'Bring your evidence, if you should be truthful' (Sahih International). This reflects the consistent Quranic methodology of demanding proof for claims about religion.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that faith must be grounded in clear evidence and knowledge, not blind tradition or unfounded claims, and challenges us to scrutinize our own beliefs to ensure they rest on authentic sources. For modern believers, it reinforces the importance of seeking knowledge and being prepared to justify our religious convictions with sound reasoning and authentic texts.