وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا يَأْتِينَا بِـَٔايَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦٓ ۚ أَوَلَمْ تَأْتِهِم بَيِّنَةُ مَا فِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ 133
Translations
And they say, "Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?" Has there not come to them evidence of what was in the former scriptures?
Transliteration
Wa-qāloo law-lā ya'tīnā bi-āyatin min rabbihī, a-wa-lam ta'tihim bayyinatu mā fī aṣ-ṣuḥufī al-ūlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers demanded a miraculous sign from the Prophet (peace be upon him), yet they had already been given clear evidence in the form of the previous scriptures (Torah, Gospel, Psalms) which testified to his prophethood. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah indicates that the Qur'an itself, combined with the testimony of earlier revelations, constitutes sufficient proof, and the persistent demand for additional signs reflects their obstinate rejection despite clear evidence.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Taha's discourse on the opposition the Prophet faced in Mecca. The Meccan disbelievers continually demanded miraculous signs as a condition for belief, despite having access to knowledge of previous scriptures that predicted his coming. This reflects the broader Meccan period struggle where signs were repeatedly requested yet rejected.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of demanding signs: Sahih Bukhari narrates that the Prophet said, 'The greatest signs are the Qur'an and the preservation of the faith.' Also relevant is Sahih Muslim's hadith concerning the Jews and Christians recognizing the Prophet in their scriptures but concealing this knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that truth is often available to those who genuinely seek it, and persistent demands for additional evidence often mask spiritual stubbornness rather than honest inquiry. For believers today, it reminds us that the Qur'an and the coherence of divine revelation across scriptures provide overwhelming evidence, and faith should not depend solely on miraculous displays but on sincere reflection.