Al-Isra' (91-100) Tafsir

91

أَوۡ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ۬ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ۬ وَعِنَبٍ۬ فَتُفَجِّرَ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرَ خِلَـٰلَهَا تَفۡجِيرًا

Or [until] you have a garden of palm tress and grapes and make rivers gush forth within them in force [and abundance]

Tafsir

Challenging by the Qur'an

Then Allah points out the great virtue of the Qur'an, and says that even if mankind and the Jinn were all to come together and agree to produce something like that which was revealed to His Messenger , they would never be able to do it, even if they were to cooperate and support and help one another. This is something which is impossible. How could the words of created beings be like the Words of the Creator Who has no equal and peer, for there is none like unto Him

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ صَرَّفۡنَا لِلنَّاسِ ﴾

(And indeed We have fully explained to man- kind,) meaning, `We have furnished them with evidence and definitive proof, and We have shown them the truth and explained it in detail, yet despite that most of mankind insist on disbelief, i.e., denying and rejecting the truth.'

﴿ وَقَالُواْ لَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ تَفۡجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَنۢبُوعًا • أَوۡ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ۬ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ۬ وَعِنَبٍ۬ فَتُفَجِّرَ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرَ خِلَـٰلَهَا تَفۡجِيرًا • أَوۡ تُسۡقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡنَا كِسَفًا أَوۡ تَأۡتِىَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةِ قَبِيلاً • أَوۡ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيۡتٌ۬ مِّن زُخۡرُفٍ أَوۡ تَرۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيۡنَا كِتَـٰبً۬ا نَّقۡرَؤُهُ ۥ‌ۗ قُلۡ سُبۡحَانَ رَبِّى هَلۡ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ ﴾

(90. And they say: "We shall not believe in you, until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us;'') (91. "Or you have a garden of date palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst abundantly;'') (92. "Or you cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as you have pretended, or you bring Allah and the angels before (us) face to face;'') (93. "Or you have a house of Zukhruf, or you ascend up into the sky, and even then we will put no faith in your ascension until you bring down for us a Book that we would read.'' Say: "Glorified be my Lord! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger'')

92

أَوۡ تُسۡقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡنَا كِسَفًا أَوۡ تَأۡتِىَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةِ قَبِيلاً

Or you make the heaven fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed or you bring Allah and the angels before [us]

Tafsir

Challenging by the Qur'an

Then Allah points out the great virtue of the Qur'an, and says that even if mankind and the Jinn were all to come together and agree to produce something like that which was revealed to His Messenger , they would never be able to do it, even if they were to cooperate and support and help one another. This is something which is impossible. How could the words of created beings be like the Words of the Creator Who has no equal and peer, for there is none like unto Him

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ صَرَّفۡنَا لِلنَّاسِ ﴾

(And indeed We have fully explained to man- kind,) meaning, `We have furnished them with evidence and definitive proof, and We have shown them the truth and explained it in detail, yet despite that most of mankind insist on disbelief, i.e., denying and rejecting the truth.'

﴿ وَقَالُواْ لَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ تَفۡجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَنۢبُوعًا • أَوۡ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ۬ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ۬ وَعِنَبٍ۬ فَتُفَجِّرَ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرَ خِلَـٰلَهَا تَفۡجِيرًا • أَوۡ تُسۡقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡنَا كِسَفًا أَوۡ تَأۡتِىَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةِ قَبِيلاً • أَوۡ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيۡتٌ۬ مِّن زُخۡرُفٍ أَوۡ تَرۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيۡنَا كِتَـٰبً۬ا نَّقۡرَؤُهُ ۥ‌ۗ قُلۡ سُبۡحَانَ رَبِّى هَلۡ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ ﴾

(90. And they say: "We shall not believe in you, until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us;'') (91. "Or you have a garden of date palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst abundantly;'') (92. "Or you cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as you have pretended, or you bring Allah and the angels before (us) face to face;'') (93. "Or you have a house of Zukhruf, or you ascend up into the sky, and even then we will put no faith in your ascension until you bring down for us a Book that we would read.'' Say: "Glorified be my Lord! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger'')

93

أَوۡ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيۡتٌ۬ مِّن زُخۡرُفٍ أَوۡ تَرۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيۡنَا كِتَـٰبً۬ا نَّقۡرَؤُهُ ۥ‌ۗ قُلۡ سُبۡحَانَ رَبِّى هَلۡ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬

Or you have a house of gold or you ascend into the sky. And [even then], we will not believe in your ascension until you bring down to us a book we may read." Say, "Exalted is my Lord! Was I ever but a human messenger?"

Tafsir

Challenging by the Qur'an

Then Allah points out the great virtue of the Qur'an, and says that even if mankind and the Jinn were all to come together and agree to produce something like that which was revealed to His Messenger , they would never be able to do it, even if they were to cooperate and support and help one another. This is something which is impossible. How could the words of created beings be like the Words of the Creator Who has no equal and peer, for there is none like unto Him

﴿ وَلَقَدۡ صَرَّفۡنَا لِلنَّاسِ ﴾

(And indeed We have fully explained to man- kind,) meaning, `We have furnished them with evidence and definitive proof, and We have shown them the truth and explained it in detail, yet despite that most of mankind insist on disbelief, i.e., denying and rejecting the truth.'

﴿ وَقَالُواْ لَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ تَفۡجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَنۢبُوعًا • أَوۡ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ۬ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ۬ وَعِنَبٍ۬ فَتُفَجِّرَ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرَ خِلَـٰلَهَا تَفۡجِيرًا • أَوۡ تُسۡقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡنَا كِسَفًا أَوۡ تَأۡتِىَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةِ قَبِيلاً • أَوۡ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيۡتٌ۬ مِّن زُخۡرُفٍ أَوۡ تَرۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيۡنَا كِتَـٰبً۬ا نَّقۡرَؤُهُ ۥ‌ۗ قُلۡ سُبۡحَانَ رَبِّى هَلۡ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ ﴾

(90. And they say: "We shall not believe in you, until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us;'') (91. "Or you have a garden of date palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst abundantly;'') (92. "Or you cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as you have pretended, or you bring Allah and the angels before (us) face to face;'') (93. "Or you have a house of Zukhruf, or you ascend up into the sky, and even then we will put no faith in your ascension until you bring down for us a Book that we would read.'' Say: "Glorified be my Lord! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger'')

94

وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن يُؤۡمِنُوٓاْ إِذۡ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓاْ أَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬

And what prevented the people from believing when guidance came to them except that they said, "Has Allah sent a human messenger?"

Tafsir

The Reason why the Idolators' Demands were refused

In the case of this gathering where the Quraysh came together to speak with the Messenger of Allah , if Allah knew that they were making these requests in order to be guided, they would have been granted, but He knew that they were making these demands out of disbelief and stubbornness. It was said to the Messenger of Allah , "If you wish, We will give them what they are asking, but if they then disbelieve, I will punish them with a punishment that I have never imposed upon anyone else in the universe; or if you wish, I will open for them the gate of repentance and mercy.'' He said:

« بَلْ تَفْتَحُ عَلَيْهِمْ بَابَ التَّوْبَةِ وَالرَّحْمَة »

(Rather, You open for them the gate of repentance and mercy.) This is like the Ayah:

﴿ وَمَا مَنَعَنَآ أَن نُّرۡسِلَ بِٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ إِلَّآ أَن ڪَذَّبَ بِہَا ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ‌ۚ وَءَاتَيۡنَا ثَمُودَ ٱلنَّاقَةَ مُبۡصِرَةً۬ فَظَلَمُواْ بِہَا‌ۚ وَمَا نُرۡسِلُ بِٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ إِلَّا تَخۡوِيفً۬ا ﴾

(And nothing stops Us from sending the Ayat but that the people of old denied them. And We sent the she-camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction).) (17:59) And Allah says:

﴿ وَقَالُواْ مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلرَّسُولِ يَأۡڪُلُ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمۡشِى فِى ٱلۡأَسۡوَاقِ‌ۙ لَوۡلَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡهِ مَلَكٌ۬ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ ۥ نَذِيرًا • أَوۡ يُلۡقَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِ ڪَنزٌ أَوۡ تَكُونُ لَهُ ۥ جَنَّةٌ۬ يَأۡڪُلُ مِنۡهَا‌ۚ وَقَالَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلاً۬ مَّسۡحُورًا • ٱنظُرۡ ڪَيۡفَ ضَرَبُواْ لَكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَ فَضَلُّواْ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلاً۬ • تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِن شَآءَ جَعَلَ لَكَ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّن ذَٲلِكَ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ وَيَجۡعَل لَّكَ قُصُورَۢا • بَلۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِٱلسَّاعَةِ‌ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِمَن ڪَذَّبَ بِٱلسَّاعَةِ سَعِيرًا ﴾

(And they say: "Why does this Messenger eat food, and walk about in the markets (as we). Why is not an angel sent down to him to be a warner with him Or (why) has not a treasure been granted to him, or why has he not a garden whereof he may eat'' And the wrongdoers say: "You follow none but a man bewitched.'' See how they coin similitudes for you, so they have gone astray, and they cannot find a path. Blessed be He Who, if He wills, will assign you better than that - Gardens under which rivers flow and will assign you palaces. Nay, they deny the Hour, and for those who deny the Hour, We have prepared a flaming Fire.) (25:7-11) Allah's saying,

﴿ حَتَّىٰ تَفۡجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَنۢبُوعًا ﴾

(until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us) refers to a spring of flowing water. They asked him to bring forth springs of fresh water in the land of Al-Hijaz, here and there. This is easy for Allah, may He be glorified and exalted; if He willed, He could do that. He could have responded to all their demands, but He knew that they would not be guided by that, as He says:

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّتۡ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ڪَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ • وَلَوۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ ڪُلُّ ءَايَةٍ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ ﴾

(Truly, those, against whom the Word (wrath) of your Lord has been justified, will not believe. Even if every sign should come to them, until they see the painful torment.) (10:96-97) And Allah says:

﴿ وَلَوۡ أَنَّنَا نَزَّلۡنَآ إِلَيۡہِمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةَ وَكَلَّمَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَحَشَرۡنَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قُبُلاً۬ مَّا كَانُواْ لِيُؤۡمِنُوٓاْ ﴾

(And even if We had sent down unto them angels, and the dead had spoken unto them, and We had gathered together all things before their very eyes, they would not have believed) ﴿6:111﴾ His saying;

﴿ أَوۡ تُسۡقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمۡتَ ﴾

(Or you cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as you have pretended,) means, `you promised us that on the Day of Resurrection the heavens will be split asunder, being broken and torn up, with parts of it falling down, so do that in this world and make it fall in pieces.' This is like when they said:

﴿ ٱللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَـٰذَا هُوَ ٱلۡحَقَّ مِنۡ عِندِكَ فَأَمۡطِرۡ عَلَيۡنَا حِجَارَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ﴾

(O Allah! If this (the Qur'an) is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky.) (8:32) Similarly, the people of Shu`ayb asked him:

﴿ فَأَسۡقِطۡ عَلَيۡنَا كِسَفً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ﴾

(So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!) (26:187) So Allah punished them with the punishment of the day of Shadow (a gloomy cloud), which was the torment of a Great Day. (26:189) As for the Prophet of Repentance and Mercy, who was sent as a mercy to the worlds, he asked Allah to delay their punishment, in the hope that Allah would bring forth from their offspring people who would worship Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. This is what indeed did happen, for among those who are mentioned above were some who later embraced Islam and became good and sincere Muslims, even `Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah, who followed the Prophet (out of that meeting) and spoke to him as he did. He became a sincere Muslim and turned to Allah in repentance.

﴿ أَوۡ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيۡتٌ۬ مِّن زُخۡرُفٍ ﴾

(Or you have a house of Zukhruf.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah said, "This is gold.'' This was also what was said in the recitation of Ibn Mas`ud, "Or you have a house of gold.''

﴿ أَوۡ تَرۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ﴾

(or you ascend up into the sky,) meaning, you climb up on a ladder while we are watching you.

﴿ وَلَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيۡنَا كِتَـٰبً۬ا نَّقۡرَؤُهُ ۥ‌ۗ ﴾

(and even then we will put no faith in your ascension until you bring down for us a Book that we would read.) Mujahid said, "This means a book in which there would be one page for each person, on which would be the words: `This is a book from Allah to so-and-so the son of so-and-so, which he would find by his head when he woke up in the morning.''

﴿ قُلۡ سُبۡحَانَ رَبِّى هَلۡ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ ﴾

(Say: "Glorified be my Lord! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger'') meaning, `Glorified, exalted and sanctified be He above the notion that anyone would come before Him concerning any matter pertaining to His authority and sovereignty. He is the One Who does what He wills. If He willed, he could have given you what you asked for, or if He willed, he could have refrained. I am only a Messenger to you, sent to convey the Messages of my Lord and advise you. I have done that, and the response to what you have asked is to be decided by Allah, may He be glorified.'

﴿ وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن يُؤۡمِنُوٓاْ إِذۡ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓاْ أَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ • قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةٌ۬ يَمۡشُونَ مُطۡمَٮِٕنِّينَ لَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَڪً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ ﴾

(94. And nothing prevented men from believing when the guidance came to them, except that they said: "Has Allah sent a man as (His) Messenger'') (95. Say: "If there were on the earth, angels walking about in peace and security, We should certainly have sent down for them from the heaven an angel as a Messenger.'')

95

قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةٌ۬ يَمۡشُونَ مُطۡمَٮِٕنِّينَ لَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَڪً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬

Say, "If there were upon the earth angels walking securely, We would have sent down to them from the heaven an angel [as a] messenger."

Tafsir

The Reason why the Idolators' Demands were refused

In the case of this gathering where the Quraysh came together to speak with the Messenger of Allah , if Allah knew that they were making these requests in order to be guided, they would have been granted, but He knew that they were making these demands out of disbelief and stubbornness. It was said to the Messenger of Allah , "If you wish, We will give them what they are asking, but if they then disbelieve, I will punish them with a punishment that I have never imposed upon anyone else in the universe; or if you wish, I will open for them the gate of repentance and mercy.'' He said:

« بَلْ تَفْتَحُ عَلَيْهِمْ بَابَ التَّوْبَةِ وَالرَّحْمَة »

(Rather, You open for them the gate of repentance and mercy.) This is like the Ayah:

﴿ وَمَا مَنَعَنَآ أَن نُّرۡسِلَ بِٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ إِلَّآ أَن ڪَذَّبَ بِہَا ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ‌ۚ وَءَاتَيۡنَا ثَمُودَ ٱلنَّاقَةَ مُبۡصِرَةً۬ فَظَلَمُواْ بِہَا‌ۚ وَمَا نُرۡسِلُ بِٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ إِلَّا تَخۡوِيفً۬ا ﴾

(And nothing stops Us from sending the Ayat but that the people of old denied them. And We sent the she-camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction).) (17:59) And Allah says:

﴿ وَقَالُواْ مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلرَّسُولِ يَأۡڪُلُ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمۡشِى فِى ٱلۡأَسۡوَاقِ‌ۙ لَوۡلَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡهِ مَلَكٌ۬ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ ۥ نَذِيرًا • أَوۡ يُلۡقَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِ ڪَنزٌ أَوۡ تَكُونُ لَهُ ۥ جَنَّةٌ۬ يَأۡڪُلُ مِنۡهَا‌ۚ وَقَالَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلاً۬ مَّسۡحُورًا • ٱنظُرۡ ڪَيۡفَ ضَرَبُواْ لَكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَ فَضَلُّواْ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلاً۬ • تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِن شَآءَ جَعَلَ لَكَ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّن ذَٲلِكَ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ وَيَجۡعَل لَّكَ قُصُورَۢا • بَلۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِٱلسَّاعَةِ‌ۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِمَن ڪَذَّبَ بِٱلسَّاعَةِ سَعِيرًا ﴾

(And they say: "Why does this Messenger eat food, and walk about in the markets (as we). Why is not an angel sent down to him to be a warner with him Or (why) has not a treasure been granted to him, or why has he not a garden whereof he may eat'' And the wrongdoers say: "You follow none but a man bewitched.'' See how they coin similitudes for you, so they have gone astray, and they cannot find a path. Blessed be He Who, if He wills, will assign you better than that - Gardens under which rivers flow and will assign you palaces. Nay, they deny the Hour, and for those who deny the Hour, We have prepared a flaming Fire.) (25:7-11) Allah's saying,

﴿ حَتَّىٰ تَفۡجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَنۢبُوعًا ﴾

(until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us) refers to a spring of flowing water. They asked him to bring forth springs of fresh water in the land of Al-Hijaz, here and there. This is easy for Allah, may He be glorified and exalted; if He willed, He could do that. He could have responded to all their demands, but He knew that they would not be guided by that, as He says:

﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّتۡ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ڪَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ • وَلَوۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ ڪُلُّ ءَايَةٍ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ ﴾

(Truly, those, against whom the Word (wrath) of your Lord has been justified, will not believe. Even if every sign should come to them, until they see the painful torment.) (10:96-97) And Allah says:

﴿ وَلَوۡ أَنَّنَا نَزَّلۡنَآ إِلَيۡہِمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةَ وَكَلَّمَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَحَشَرۡنَا عَلَيۡہِمۡ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قُبُلاً۬ مَّا كَانُواْ لِيُؤۡمِنُوٓاْ ﴾

(And even if We had sent down unto them angels, and the dead had spoken unto them, and We had gathered together all things before their very eyes, they would not have believed) ﴿6:111﴾ His saying;

﴿ أَوۡ تُسۡقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمۡتَ ﴾

(Or you cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as you have pretended,) means, `you promised us that on the Day of Resurrection the heavens will be split asunder, being broken and torn up, with parts of it falling down, so do that in this world and make it fall in pieces.' This is like when they said:

﴿ ٱللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَـٰذَا هُوَ ٱلۡحَقَّ مِنۡ عِندِكَ فَأَمۡطِرۡ عَلَيۡنَا حِجَارَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ﴾

(O Allah! If this (the Qur'an) is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky.) (8:32) Similarly, the people of Shu`ayb asked him:

﴿ فَأَسۡقِطۡ عَلَيۡنَا كِسَفً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ﴾

(So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!) (26:187) So Allah punished them with the punishment of the day of Shadow (a gloomy cloud), which was the torment of a Great Day. (26:189) As for the Prophet of Repentance and Mercy, who was sent as a mercy to the worlds, he asked Allah to delay their punishment, in the hope that Allah would bring forth from their offspring people who would worship Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. This is what indeed did happen, for among those who are mentioned above were some who later embraced Islam and became good and sincere Muslims, even `Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah, who followed the Prophet (out of that meeting) and spoke to him as he did. He became a sincere Muslim and turned to Allah in repentance.

﴿ أَوۡ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيۡتٌ۬ مِّن زُخۡرُفٍ ﴾

(Or you have a house of Zukhruf.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah said, "This is gold.'' This was also what was said in the recitation of Ibn Mas`ud, "Or you have a house of gold.''

﴿ أَوۡ تَرۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ﴾

(or you ascend up into the sky,) meaning, you climb up on a ladder while we are watching you.

﴿ وَلَن نُّؤۡمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيۡنَا كِتَـٰبً۬ا نَّقۡرَؤُهُ ۥ‌ۗ ﴾

(and even then we will put no faith in your ascension until you bring down for us a Book that we would read.) Mujahid said, "This means a book in which there would be one page for each person, on which would be the words: `This is a book from Allah to so-and-so the son of so-and-so, which he would find by his head when he woke up in the morning.''

﴿ قُلۡ سُبۡحَانَ رَبِّى هَلۡ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ ﴾

(Say: "Glorified be my Lord! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger'') meaning, `Glorified, exalted and sanctified be He above the notion that anyone would come before Him concerning any matter pertaining to His authority and sovereignty. He is the One Who does what He wills. If He willed, he could have given you what you asked for, or if He willed, he could have refrained. I am only a Messenger to you, sent to convey the Messages of my Lord and advise you. I have done that, and the response to what you have asked is to be decided by Allah, may He be glorified.'

﴿ وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن يُؤۡمِنُوٓاْ إِذۡ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓاْ أَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ بَشَرً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ • قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةٌ۬ يَمۡشُونَ مُطۡمَٮِٕنِّينَ لَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَڪً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ ﴾

(94. And nothing prevented men from believing when the guidance came to them, except that they said: "Has Allah sent a man as (His) Messenger'') (95. Say: "If there were on the earth, angels walking about in peace and security, We should certainly have sent down for them from the heaven an angel as a Messenger.'')

96

قُلۡ ڪَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَہِيدَۢا بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَڪُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرَۢا بَصِيرً۬ا

Say, "Sufficient is Allah as Witness between me and you. Indeed he is ever, concerning His servants, Acquainted and Seeing."

Tafsir

The refusal of the Idolators to believe because the Messenger was a Human - and its refutation

﴿ وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ ﴾

(And nothing prevented men) means, most of them,

﴿ أَن يُؤۡمِنُوٓاْ ﴾

(from believing) and following the Messengers, except the fact that they found it strange that human beings would be sent as Messengers, as Allah says:

﴿ أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ أَنۡ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ قَدَمَ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ رَبِّہِمۡ‌ۗ ﴾

(Is it a wonder for mankind that We have sent Our revelation to a man from among themselves (saying): "Warn mankind, and give good news to those who believe that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds'') (10:2) And Allah says:

﴿ ذَٲلِكَ بِأَنَّهُ ۥ كَانَت تَّأۡتِيہِمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَقَالُوٓاْ أَبَشَرٌ۬ يَہۡدُونَنَا ﴾

(That was because there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they said: "Shall mere men guide us'') (64:6) Fira`wn and his people said:

﴿ أَنُؤۡمِنُ لِبَشَرَيۡنِ مِثۡلِنَا وَقَوۡمُهُمَا لَنَا عَـٰبِدُونَ ﴾

(They said: "Shall we believe in two men like ourselves, and their people are obedient to us with humility!'') (23: 47) Similarly, the nations said to their Messengers:

﴿ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ۬ مِّثۡلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعۡبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأۡتُونَا بِسُلۡطَـٰنٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ ﴾

("You are no more than human beings like us! You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring us a clear authority'') (14:10) And there are many other similar Ayat. Then Allah says, pointing out His kindness and mercy towards His servants, that He sends to them Messengers of their own kind so that they will understand what he says and will be able to speak to him directly. If He sent to mankind a Messenger from among the angels, they would not be able to deal with him face to face and learn from him, as Allah says:

﴿ لَقَدۡ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذۡ بَعَثَ فِيہِمۡ رَسُولاً۬ مِّنۡ أَنفُسِهِمۡ ﴾

(Indeed, Allah conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves) (3:164)

﴿ لَقَدۡ جَآءَڪُمۡ رَسُولٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَنفُسِڪُمۡ ﴾

(Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger from among yourselves) (10:128)

﴿ كَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِيڪُمۡ رَسُولاً۬ مِّنڪُمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيڪُمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُڪُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِڪۡمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمۡ تَكُونُواْ تَعۡلَمُونَ • فَٱذۡكُرُونِىٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡڪُرُواْ لِى وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ ﴾

(Similarly, We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, reciting to you Our verses (the Qur'an) and purifying you, and teaching you the Book and the Hikmah, and teaching you that which you used not to know. Therefore remember Me. I will remember you, and be grateful to Me and never be ungrateful to Me.) (2:151-152) Allah says here:

﴿ قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةٌ۬ يَمۡشُونَ مُطۡمَٮِٕنِّينَ ﴾

(Say: "If there were on the earth, angels walking about in peace and security,) meaning, just as you do,

﴿ لَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَڪً۬ا رَّسُولاً۬ ﴾

(We should certainly have sent down for them from the heaven an angel as a Messenger). meaning, `one of their own kind. But as you are human, We have sent to you Messengers from yourselves, as a kindness and a mercy.'

﴿ قُلۡ ڪَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَہِيدَۢا بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَڪُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرَۢا بَصِيرً۬ا ﴾

(96. Say: "Sufficient is Allah for a witness between me and you. Verily, He is Ever the All-Knower, the All-Seer of His servants.'') Allah tells His Prophet how to prove that what he has brought is true, saying to him to tell them: "He (Allah) is a witness over me and over you. He knows what I have brought to you. If I were lying to you, He would take revenge on me in the severest manner,'' as Allah says:

﴿ وَلَوۡ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيۡنَا بَعۡضَ ٱلۡأَقَاوِيلِ • لَأَخَذۡنَا مِنۡهُ بِٱلۡيَمِينِ • ثُمَّ لَقَطَعۡنَا مِنۡهُ ٱلۡوَتِينَ ﴾

(And if he had forged a false saying concerning Us, We surely would have seized him by his right hand, And then We certainly would have cut off his life artery.) (69:44-46) Allah said;

﴿ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرَۢا بَصِيرً۬ا ﴾

(Verily, He is Ever the All-Knower, the All-Seer of His servants.) meaning, He knows best who among them deserves blessings, good treatment and guidance, and who deserves to be doomed and led astray. He says:

﴿ وَمَن يَہۡدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدِ‌ۖ وَمَن يُضۡلِلۡ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِهِۦ‌ۖ وَنَحۡشُرُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ عُمۡيً۬ا وَبُكۡمً۬ا وَصُمًّ۬ا‌ۖ مَّأۡوَٮٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ‌ۖ ڪُلَّمَا خَبَتۡ زِدۡنَـٰهُمۡ سَعِيرً۬ا ﴾

(97. And he whom Allah guides, he is led aright; and whomever He leaves astray can never find helpers other than Him, and We shall gather them together on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their abode will be Hell; whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.)

97

وَمَن يَہۡدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدِ‌ۖ وَمَن يُضۡلِلۡ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِهِۦ‌ۖ وَنَحۡشُرُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ عُمۡيً۬ا وَبُكۡمً۬ا وَصُمًّ۬ا‌ۖ مَّأۡوَٮٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ‌ۖ ڪُلَّمَا خَبَتۡ زِدۡنَـٰهُمۡ سَعِيرً۬ا

And whoever Allah guides – he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray – you will never find for them protectors besides Him, and We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection [fallen] on their faces – blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire.