أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ قَالَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ 2
Translations
Have the people been amazed that We revealed [revelation] to a man from among them, [saying], "Warn mankind and give good tidings to those who believe that they will have a [firm] precedence of honor with their Lord"? [But] the disbelievers say, "Indeed, this is an obvious magician."
Transliteration
A-kana lin-nasi ajaban an awhayna ila rajulin minhum an andhir an-nasa wa bashshir alladhina amanu anna lahum qadama sidqin inda rabbihim. Qala al-kafirun inna hadha la-sahirun mubin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelief of the Meccan polytheists who found it strange that Allah revealed His message to a man from among them (Prophet Muhammad) tasking him to warn mankind and give glad tidings to the believers of an honored station with their Lord. The disbelievers' rejection and accusation of sorcery is presented as their foolish response to this divine revelation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this reaction was rooted in arrogance—they could not accept that prophethood came to someone of their own humanity rather than in a form that would compel belief.
Revelation Context
This ayah opens the surah of Yunus and addresses the early Meccan opposition to Prophet Muhammad's message. It reflects the historical context where the Quraysh rejected the Prophet's call, finding it implausible that an ordinary man from their midst could be a messenger of Allah. The surah broadly addresses objections to revelation and prophethood, establishing the legitimacy of the Prophet's mission.
Related Hadiths
The Hadith in Sahih Bukhari (6:507) where the Prophet said, 'The best of you are those who have the best character,' relates to accepting prophets based on their character rather than outward appearances. Additionally, Muslim's collection records that the disbelievers' accusation of sorcery was their common refrain against the Prophet, reflecting the ayah's historical accuracy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that opposition to truth often stems from arrogance and prejudice rather than rational objection, and reminds believers that their faith is rewarded with honor before Allah regardless of worldly mockery. It encourages patience in the face of ridicule and strengthens conviction that truth needs no validation from skeptics.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ ٱلضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنۢبِهِۦٓ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَآئِمًا فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُۥ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمْ يَدْعُنَآ إِلَىٰ ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And when affliction touches man, he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side or sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he continues [in disobedience] as if he had never called upon Us to [remove] an affliction that touched him. Thus is made pleasing to the transgressors that which they have been doing.
وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ ۖ أَنتُم بَرِيٓـُٔونَ مِمَّآ أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَا۠ بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad], then say, "For me are my deeds, and for you are your deeds. You are disassociated from what I do, and I am disassociated from what you do."
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allāh, your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember?
وَإِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلنَّاسَ رَحْمَةً مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُمْ إِذَا لَهُم مَّكْرٌ فِىٓ ءَايَاتِنَا ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْرًا ۚ إِنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ
And when We give the people a taste of mercy after adversity has touched them, at once they conspire against Our verses. Say, "Allāh is swifter in strategy." Indeed, Our messengers [i.e., angels] record that which you conspire.