أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ إِنِ ٱفْتَرَيْتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمْلِكُونَ لِى مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۖ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 8
Translations
Or do they say, "He has invented it"? Say, "If I have invented it, you will not possess for me [the power of protection] from Allāh at all. He is most knowing of that in which you are involved. Sufficient is He as Witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
Transliteration
Am yaqūlūna iftarayhu. Qul in iftaraytuhu fa-lā tamlikūn lī min Allāh shayān. Huwa aʿlam bi-mā tufīḍūn fīh. Kafā bihi shahīdan baynī wa-baynakum. Wa-huwa al-Ghafūr al-Raḥīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the Prophet's response to the Meccan disbelievers' accusation that he fabricated the Qur'an. The Prophet is instructed to challenge them with a profound logical argument: if he had indeed forged the Qur'an, they could not protect him from Allah's punishment, as Allah is fully aware of their disputes and designs. According to Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this response establishes that the Qur'an's authenticity is divinely guaranteed, and Allah alone is the true witness between the Prophet and his opponents. The ayah concludes by emphasizing Allah's attributes of forgiveness and mercy, implying an invitation to belief even after such accusations.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ahqaf is a Meccan chapter revealed during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet in Mecca. The immediate context addresses the persistent denials and accusations of the Quraysh regarding the divine origin of the Qur'an. This particular ayah responds to their charge of fabrication (iftirā'), a common objection raised against the Prophet's message.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Sahih Bukhari 4953, where the Prophet is described as protected by Allah from lying, establishing his truthfulness. Additionally, the concept of Allah as witness between believers and disbelievers is referenced in various hadiths regarding the Day of Judgment (e.g., in the context of surah Al-Hajj 22:78).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that truth needs no human defense—Allah Himself is sufficient as witness and guardian of His message. For believers, it reinforces confidence that the Qur'an's authenticity transcends human criticism, and offers a powerful intellectual response to doubts: any falsehood fabricated by a human would inevitably be exposed, yet the Qur'an has endured unchanged for centuries.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَٱذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُۥ بِٱلْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
And mention, [O Muḥammad], the brother of ʿAad, when he warned his people in [the region of] al-Aḥqāf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."
مَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُوا۟ مُعْرِضُونَ
We did not create the heavens and earth and what is between them except in truth and [for] a specified term. But those who disbelieve, from that of which they are warned, are turning away.
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ ۖ ٱئْتُونِى بِكِتَـٰبٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَـٰذَآ أَوْ أَثَـٰرَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allāh? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful."
وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنصِتُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوْا۟ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur’ān. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen attentively." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners.