أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِّثْلِهِۦ مُفْتَرَيَـٰتٍ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 13
Translations
Or do they say, "He invented it"? Say, "Then bring ten sūrahs like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."
Transliteration
Am yaqulūna iftarāhu qul fa'tū bi'ashri suwarin mithlihi muftarayātin wad'ū mani istata'tum min dūni Allāhi in kuntum sādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The ayah presents a powerful challenge to those who claimed the Qur'an was fabricated by the Prophet Muhammad—if they truly believed this, they should produce ten surahs like it, calling upon anyone besides Allah to help them if they were truthful. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this as evidence of the Qur'an's miraculous nature (i'jāz), as neither the disbelievers nor all of humanity combined could ever match its eloquence, wisdom, and linguistic perfection. The challenge gradually increased in difficulty: from ten surahs (11:13) to one surah (2:23), ultimately demonstrating the impossibility of replicating the Qur'an.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period when the Meccan pagans were actively opposing the Prophet and spreading false claims about the divine origin of the Qur'an. The surah of Hud addresses various accusations against the Prophet and provides rational arguments refuting the disbelievers' objections.
Related Hadiths
The concept of the Qur'an's inimitability (i'jāz) is discussed throughout Islamic literature. While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah's challenge, Imam Al-Suyuti's work on i'jāz documents numerous accounts of people converting upon hearing the Qur'an's magnificent recitation, supporting the challenge's implicit premise.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the Qur'an's perfection is accessible to reason and observation—believers need not rely solely on faith but can recognize the text's miraculous nature through intellectual examination. For modern readers, it emphasizes that faith in Islam is rational and evidence-based, inviting sincere seekers to study the Qur'an's unparalleled beauty and consistency.
Related Ayahs
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ شَقُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلنَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ
As for those who were [destined to be] wretched, they will be in the Fire. For them therein is [violent] exhaling and inhaling.
أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوا۟ مِنْهُ ۚ أَلَا حِينَ يَسْتَغْشُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Unquestionably, they [i.e., the disbelievers] turn away their breasts to hide themselves from him. Unquestionably, [even] when they cover themselves in their clothing, He [i.e., Allāh] knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُۥٓ ۗ أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And if We hold back from them the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say, "What detains it?" Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ
That you not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a painful day."