لَوْ أَنَّ عِندَنَا ذِكْرًا مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 168
Translations
"If we had a message from [those of] the former peoples,
Transliteration
Law anna AAinda-na thikran min-al-awwaleen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses the false conditional wish of the disbelievers: 'If only we had a reminder from the former peoples,' implying they desire proof or warning from previous generations to justify their disbelief. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the disbelievers are making excuses by claiming they lack sufficient warning, when in fact the Qur'an itself is a complete reminder superior to all previous scriptures. Al-Qurtubi notes this reflects their stubbornness—they reject the clear signs present before them and fantasize about conditions that would make belief easier.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah As-Saffat's discussion of the disbelievers' arguments and rationalizations on the Day of Judgment. The surah addresses the Meccan polytheists' rejection of the Qur'an and prophecy, presenting their flawed reasoning and the consequences of their denial. This specific ayah exemplifies their excuse-making despite possessing the Qur'an, the final and most complete revelation.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to a hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said that the best of remembrance (dhikr) is the Qur'an. Additionally, a hadith in Tirmidhi emphasizes that the Qur'an is a sufficient proof and reminder for all humanity, countering the disbelievers' false claim of lacking guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that rejecting clear signs due to the desire for alternative proof reflects arrogance rather than genuine seeking of truth. For believers, it reminds us that the Qur'an is the ultimate reminder and guidance—we need not seek justification elsewhere, but should embrace the complete revelation we have been given.