وَمَا نُرِيهِم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍ إِلَّا هِىَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أُخْتِهَا ۖ وَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ 48
Translations
And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith].
Transliteration
Wa maa nureeehim min aayatin illaa hiya akbaru min ukhtihaa wa akhadhnahum bil-adhaabi laallaahum yarji'oon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the miracles shown to Pharaoh and his people, wherein each successive sign was greater than the previous one—from the staff turning into a serpent, to the plagues of blood, frogs, locusts, and hail—yet they continued to reject them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, despite witnessing increasingly powerful miracles, Pharaoh's people persisted in disbelief, so Allah punished them with severe torment in hopes they would repent and return to guidance, though their hearts remained hardened.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative describing Moses's confrontation with Pharaoh, a central theme in Surah Az-Zukhruf. The ayah illustrates how Pharaoh and his people were presented with escalating divine signs, yet their rejection and arrogance only deepened, demonstrating the consequences of turning away from divine guidance despite clear evidence.
Related Hadiths
The theme of rejecting signs relates to Surah Al-Araf 7:36, where the Quran states that those who turn away from the ayat (signs) will face punishment. Additionally, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned against the hardening of hearts, as mentioned in various hadiths regarding the sealing of hearts in Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the multiplication and escalation of divine signs are meant to awaken hearts to truth, yet their rejection invites divine punishment—a merciful warning for those with insight. Modern readers should reflect on how clear signs of divine guidance in their lives demand sincere response, lest they too become heedless of their Lord's call.