وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ لَئِن جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌ لَّيُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهَا ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا يُشْعِرُكُمْ أَنَّهَآ إِذَا جَآءَتْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 109
Translations
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths that if a sign came to them, they would surely believe in it. Say, "The signs are only with [i.e., from] Allāh." And what will make you perceive that even if it [i.e., a sign] came, they would not believe.
Transliteration
Wa-aqsamu billahi jahda aymanihim la-in jaaathum ayatun layuminunna biha. Qul innama al-ayatu inda Allah. Wa ma yushi'rukum annaha iza jaadat la yu'minun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers swore by Allah with the most solemn oaths that if a sign came to them, they would surely believe in it. However, Allah instructs the Prophet to tell them that the signs are entirely in Allah's authority and discretion, and that even if a sign were to come, there is no guarantee they would believe—their hearts may remain sealed in disbelief. This ayah exposes the hypocrisy and conditional faith of those who demand miracles while harboring obstinate hearts; Ibn Kathir notes that their oath itself is evidence of their insincerity, as true believers accept the signs already present in the Quran and creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am (a Meccan surah) and addresses the persistent demand of the Meccan polytheists for extraordinary miracles as proof of Muhammad's prophethood. The broader context of the surah deals with the rejection of the Prophet and the signs of Allah that surrounded them. This ayah specifically responds to their stubborn insistence: 'If only a sign would come, then we would believe'—a refrain repeated throughout the Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3894) and Sahih Muslim (2800) relates to the story of the she-camel of Salih as a clear sign that was rejected despite its miraculous nature, exemplifying how even undeniable signs do not guarantee belief when hearts are hardened. Another relevant hadith is in Muslim wherein the Prophet stated that people will continue to ask for signs, but even if all signs were given, they would not believe.
Themes
Key Lesson
True belief is not merely dependent on witnessing external signs; rather, it requires a sincere and open heart willing to accept guidance. The lesson for modern believers is to examine the sincerity of their own faith: are we demanding 'signs' to avoid personal commitment, or are we genuinely submitting to the guidance already available to us through the Quran and the natural world?
Related Ayahs
وَلِتَصْغَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَفْـِٔدَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَلِيَرْضَوْهُ وَلِيَقْتَرِفُوا۟ مَا هُم مُّقْتَرِفُونَ
And [it is] so the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter will incline toward it [i.e., deceptive speech] and that they will be satisfied with it and that they will commit that which they are committing.
فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا ذُكِرَ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كُنتُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦ مُؤْمِنِينَ
So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allāh has been mentioned, if you are believers in His verses [i.e., revealed law].
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ كُلًّا هَدَيْنَا ۚ وَنُوحًا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِۦ دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And We gave to him [i.e., Abraham] Isaac and Jacob - all [of them] We guided. And Noah, We guided before; and among his descendants, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the doers of good.
قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُۥ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً لَّئِنْ أَنجَىٰنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
Say, "Who rescues you from the darknesses of the land and sea [when] you call upon Him imploring [aloud] and privately, 'If He should save us from this [crisis], we will surely be among the thankful.'"