قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَحَّرِينَ 153
Translations
They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.
Transliteration
Qalū innama anta mina al-musaḥḥarīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers of Thamūd accuse the Prophet Ṣāliḥ of being bewitched or under the influence of magic, dismissing his message as the result of sorcery rather than divine revelation. This represents their stubborn rejection and refusal to acknowledge the truth, attributing the clarity and persuasiveness of his message to supernatural deception rather than genuine prophethood. Classical scholars like Al-Ṭabarī and Ibn Kathīr note this was a common accusation leveled against prophets by those whose hearts were sealed from guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Ṣāliḥ and the people of Thamūd in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan chapter that recounts the stories of various prophets and their nations' rejections. The context reflects the similar accusations the Quraysh made against Prophet Muḥammad, claiming he was possessed or bewitched, making this narrative directly relevant to the early Muslim community facing similar denials.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself documents similar accusations in Surah Al-'Ankabūt 29:51 where disbelievers say the Quran is 'invented falsehood.' Related to this is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Quraysh plotted against the Prophet claiming he was a sorcerer, illustrating the recurring pattern of such accusations against messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
When hearts are hardened against truth, people will attribute divine signs to deception or magic rather than submit to guidance; believers should remain steadfast in their faith despite mockery and absurd accusations, knowing that the clarity of the message itself is its greatest proof.