Al-An'am · Ayah 124

وَإِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌ قَالُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ حَتَّىٰ نُؤْتَىٰ مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ رُسُلُ ٱللَّهِ ۘ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۗ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا۟ صَغَارٌ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَمْكُرُونَ 124

Translations

And when a sign comes to them, they say, "Never will we believe until we are given like that which was given to the messengers of Allāh." Allāh is most knowing of where [i.e., with whom] He places His message. There will afflict those who committed crimes debasement before Allāh and severe punishment for what they used to conspire.

Transliteration

Wa idha jaa'at-hum ayah qalū lan nu'min hattā nu'tā mithla mā ūtiya rusul-illāh. Allāhu a'lamu haythu yaj'alu risālatahu. Sayuṣīb-illādhīna ajramū ṣighārun 'ind-illāh wa 'adhābun shadīd bimā kānū yamkurūn.

Tafsir (Explanation)

When the disbelievers of Mecca were presented with clear signs (ayat) from the Qur'an, they arrogantly demanded proof equivalent to what the previous messengers received, attempting to set conditions for their belief. However, Allah alone possesses the wisdom to determine where His message is placed, and those who commit such crimes of pride and rejection will face humiliation and severe punishment for their plotting against the truth. This ayah illustrates the stubborn rejection of the Meccan pagans and serves as a warning that arbitrary conditions placed on faith reflect arrogance rather than genuine seeking of guidance.

Revelation Context

This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am (revealed in Mecca) and addresses the persistent rejection of the Qur'an by the Meccan polytheists. The broader context concerns their various excuses and pretexts for disbelief—they demanded miracles similar to those granted to previous prophets, revealing their refusal to accept the Qur'an itself as the supreme miracle. The surah emphasizes that Allah's wisdom in choosing messengers and their miracles is beyond human judgment.

Related Hadiths

The principle reflected in this ayah relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'My mercy precedes My wrath' (Sahih Muslim), which connects to how Allah's wisdom in guiding people supersedes human expectations. Also relevant is the general teaching from Sahih Bukhari regarding those who demanded signs from the Prophet (ﷺ) and remained in disbelief despite witnessing miracles.

Themes

Stubbornness and rejection of signsArrogance in setting conditions for faithDivine wisdom in choosing messengersConsequences of disbelief and plottingThe Qur'an as the final miracle

Key Lesson

True faith cannot be conditional upon arbitrary demands we impose; rather, it requires humble submission to the guidance Allah has provided. The ayah reminds us that rejection rooted in pride and stubbornness inevitably leads to spiritual loss and divine punishment, emphasizing the importance of sincere hearts open to truth.

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Related Ayahs

6:71Al-An'am

قُلْ أَنَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُنَا وَلَا يَضُرُّنَا وَنُرَدُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَابِنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ كَٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَهْوَتْهُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَيْرَانَ لَهُۥٓ أَصْحَـٰبٌ يَدْعُونَهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَى ٱئْتِنَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ هُوَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۖ وَأُمِرْنَا لِنُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

Say, "Shall we invoke instead of Allāh that which neither benefits us nor harms us and be turned back on our heels after Allāh has guided us? [We would then be] like one whom the devils enticed [to wander] upon the earth confused, [while] he has companions inviting him to guidance, [calling], 'Come to us.'" Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allāh is the [only] guidance; and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds.

6:9Al-An'am

وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ مَلَكًا لَّجَعَلْنَـٰهُ رَجُلًا وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّا يَلْبِسُونَ

And if We had made him [i.e., the messenger] an angel, We would have made him [appear as] a man, and We would have covered them with that in which they cover themselves [i.e., confusion and doubt].

6:112Al-An'am

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَـٰطِينَ ٱلْإِنسِ وَٱلْجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ ٱلْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ

And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy - devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent.

6:103Al-An'am

لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Aware.