أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 38
Translations
Or do they say [about the Prophet (ﷺ)], "He invented it?" Say, "Then bring forth a sūrah like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."
Transliteration
Am yaqooluna iftarahu, qul fa'too bisooratin mithlihi wad'oo mani istata'tum min doonil-lahi in kuntum sadiqeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the Qur'an's miraculous challenge (al-tahaddi) to those who claimed the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) fabricated it: if they truly believed the Qur'an was human-made, they should produce even a single chapter like it and call upon anyone they could besides Allah to help them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this challenge was never met despite the eloquence of pre-Islamic Arabia, proving the Qur'an's divine origin. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this challenge demonstrates the Qur'an's inimitability (i'jaz al-Qur'an) as the greatest miracle of Islam.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islamic revelation when pagan Arabs frequently accused the Prophet of fabricating the Qur'an. It addresses their accusations directly by issuing a rational, verifiable challenge that would silence critics by appealing to their own standards of judgment and expertise in Arabic language and rhetoric.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this verse, the concept of the Qur'an's inimitability is supported by various narrations. The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the Qur'an's miraculous nature as recorded in various collections. This challenge remains unanswered throughout Islamic history, which itself serves as a form of historical confirmation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that truth can be defended through rational challenge and verifiable proof rather than mere assertion; it invites critical thinkers to test claims themselves. For believers today, it reinforces confidence in the Qur'an's divine origin and serves as a reminder that God's signs are accessible to those who genuinely seek understanding.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
And what will be the supposition of those who invent falsehood about Allāh on the Day of Resurrection? Indeed, Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the people, but most of them are not grateful.
قَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَتَقُولُونَ لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَكُمْ ۖ أَسِحْرٌ هَـٰذَا وَلَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلسَّـٰحِرُونَ
Moses said, "Do you say [thus] about the truth when it has come to you? Is this magic? But magicians will not succeed."
۞ وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَدْرَكَهُ ٱلْغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنَتْ بِهِۦ بَنُوٓا۟ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims."
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
Those who believed and were fearing Allāh.