إِنَّكُمْ لَفِى قَوْلٍ مُّخْتَلِفٍ 8
Translations
Indeed, you are in differing speech.
Transliteration
Innakum lafī qawlin mukhtalif
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah asserts that the people (particularly the disbelievers of Mecca) are in disagreement and contradiction regarding the message of the Quran and the oneness of Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the various conflicting statements the Meccans made about the Prophet Muhammad and his message—some called him a poet, others a madman, and still others a magician. The ayah emphasizes the irrationality and inconsistency of rejecting divine truth while simultaneously holding contradictory positions.
Revelation Context
Surah Adh-Dhariyat is a Meccan surah that addresses the disbelief and confusion of the Quraysh regarding the message of tawhid (monotheism). This particular ayah comes within the opening section where Allah addresses the conflicting statements and denials of the Arabs, highlighting their intellectual inconsistency as evidence of their spiritual blindness rather than any deficiency in the message itself.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4476: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The most hated person to Allah is the one who is the most quarrelsome.' This relates to the theme of disagreement and dispute mentioned in the ayah. Additionally, Surah Al-Anfal 8:45 warns against dispute and loss of strength, emphasizing the destructiveness of disagreement.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that when people reject divine guidance, they inevitably fall into contradiction and confusion—a sign of the falsity of their position. For believers, it encourages steadfastness in the clear message of tawhid despite the conflicting opinions of others.