وَيَقُولُونَ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۖ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْغَيْبُ لِلَّهِ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُنتَظِرِينَ 20
Translations
And they say, "Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?" So say, "The unseen is only for Allāh [to administer], so wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."
Transliteration
Wa yaqūlūna law lā unzila 'alayhi āyatun min rabbihi fa qul innamā al-ghayb lillāh fa intaẓirū innī ma'akum min al-muntaẓirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers demand a miraculous sign from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as proof of his message, but Allah responds through His Messenger that knowledge of the unseen belongs solely to Allah, and thus they should wait patiently as the Prophet himself awaits Allah's judgment. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that this ayah emphasizes the limits of human knowledge and the exclusive prerogative of Allah regarding the unseen (ghayb), while the Prophet's patience in awaiting divine vindication serves as a model for believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within the Meccan period when the disbelievers of Mecca persistently demanded tangible miracles beyond the Qur'an itself as proof of Muhammad's prophethood. The broader context of Surah Yunus addresses the stubbornness of those who reject faith despite clear signs, and this particular verse provides the Prophet's instructed response to their unreasonable demands.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (6595) where the Prophet said, 'The strongest amongst you in strength is the one who conquers himself while in anger' relates thematically to the patience required in this ayah. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains traditions about the Prophet's patience in facing rejection and mockery from the Meccans.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that demanding certainty about the future or ultimate divine plans reflects a misunderstanding of human limitations—true wisdom lies in accepting that only Allah possesses knowledge of the unseen and trusting in His wisdom and timing rather than insisting on immediate, visible proof.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَـٰعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And [remember] when you, [O Muḥammad], left your family in the morning to post the believers at their stations for the battle [of Uḥud] - and Allāh is Hearing and Knowing -
وَأَشْرَقَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ وَجِا۟ىٓءَ بِٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.
وَتَرَى ٱلْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِىَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ ٱلسَّحَابِ ۚ صُنْعَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ
And you see the mountains, thinking them motionless, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allāh, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Aware of that which you do.
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَىُّ ٱلْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوٓا۟ أَمَدًا
Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time.