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
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ ضِيَآءً وَٱلْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُۥ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا۟ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلْحِسَابَ ۚ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allāh has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know.
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
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."
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰٓ أَلْقُوا۟ مَآ أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ
So when the magicians came, Moses said to them, "Throw down whatever you will throw."
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And for every nation is a messenger. So when their messenger comes, it will be judged between them in justice, and they will not be wronged.