وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ لَئِن جَآءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ لَّيَكُونُنَّ أَهْدَىٰ مِنْ إِحْدَى ٱلْأُمَمِ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ مَّا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّا نُفُورًا 42
Translations
And they swore by Allāh their strongest oaths that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than [any] one of the [previous] nations. But when a warner came to them, it did not increase them except in aversion
Transliteration
Wa-aqsamu billahi jahda aymaanihim la-in jaahum nadhirun layakoonunna ahda min ihda al-umam, falamma jaahum nadhirun ma zadahum illa nufuran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the arrogant oath made by the disbelievers of Mecca that if a warner (messenger) came to them, they would be more guided than any other nation. However, when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came to them as a clear warner, their response was only aversion and turning away rather than acceptance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this illustrates the stubbornness of hearts that are sealed against truth—the provision of clear guidance paradoxically increased their obstinacy because they were spiritually unprepared to receive it.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fatir, a Meccan surah addressing the rejection faced by the Prophet ﷺ in Mecca. It describes the Quraysh's arrogant presumption about their readiness for guidance, contrasted with their actual hostile rejection when the Message arrived. The context reflects the early Meccan period when disbelievers mocked the Message despite claiming they would accept a messenger if one came.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Bukhari where Allah states that whoever turns away from His remembrance will have a straitened life. Also relevant is the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about hearts being sealed by continuous rejection of truth, illustrating how persistent disbelief hardens the heart against guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that mere intellectual acknowledgment or hypothetical acceptance of truth is worthless without sincere hearts ready to submit; we must examine whether our hearts are truly open to guidance or merely deceiving ourselves with false promises of readiness. It reminds us that rejecting guidance repeatedly hardens the heart, making it increasingly difficult to accept truth even when presented clearly.