أَمْ يَقُولُونَ تَقَوَّلَهُۥ ۚ بَل لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ 33
Translations
Or do they say, "He has made it up"? Rather, they do not believe.
Transliteration
Am yaqūlūna taqawwalūhu, bal lā yu'minūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelievers' false accusation that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) fabricated or invented the Quran. The ayah firmly rejects this claim, emphasizing that the real issue is not that they doubt his truthfulness in speech, but rather their fundamental lack of faith and belief. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this verse serves as a rhetorical refutation: if they truly believed the Prophet was capable of such eloquent speech, they would recognize the Quran's divine origin, but their disbelief prevents them from accepting it.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Tur, a Meccan chapter that addresses the Quraysh's objections to the Quran and the Prophet's message. It responds to their persistent denials and accusations against the Prophet, which were common tactics of resistance among the early Meccan polytheists. The broader context emphasizes the certainty of the Day of Judgment and the consequences of rejecting the divine message.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of the Quran's inimitability: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the Quran's miraculous nature is referenced in multiple hadiths affirming its divine origin against accusations of human fabrication.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that sincere disbelief often stems not from lack of evidence or logical inconsistency, but from spiritual blindness and a hardened heart unwilling to accept truth. For believers, it reinforces the importance of recognizing the Quran's divine origin and standing firm in conviction despite opposition and false accusations.