قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ كَفَرْتُم بِهِۦ مَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ هُوَ فِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍ 52
Translations
Say, "Have you considered: if it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is from Allāh and you disbelieved in it, who would be more astray than one who is in extreme dissension?"
Transliteration
Qul ara'aytum in kana min 'indi Allahi thumma kafartum bihi man adalla mimman huwa fi shiqaqin ba'id
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is commanded to pose a rhetorical question to the disbelievers: if the Qur'an is truly from Allah and yet they reject it, who could be more misguided than someone who is in far opposition and contradiction to the truth? According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes the inexcusability of rejecting clear divine guidance, and highlights the severe misguidance of those who knowingly turn away from Allah's signs. The phrase 'shiqaq ba'id' (far opposition) denotes both physical and spiritual distance from the path of guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Fussilat, which addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Qur'an despite its clarity and eloquence. The surah's theme revolves around the detailed explanation of the Qur'an's divine origin and the consequences of rejecting it. This particular ayah serves as a powerful rhetorical challenge to those who refuse to accept the message even when presented with clear proofs.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3/107) where the Prophet said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' relates to the value of accepting and spreading Allah's guidance. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah records that rejection of clear signs leads to spiritual blindness, echoing the concept of 'shiqaq' (opposition) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that deliberate rejection of clear divine truth constitutes the deepest form of misguidance, and that we bear responsibility for our acceptance or rejection of Allah's signs. For modern believers, it emphasizes the importance of sincerely seeking truth and not allowing pride or worldly attachments to create distance between ourselves and divine guidance.