وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُنَزِّلَ ءَايَةً وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 37
Translations
And they say, "Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "Indeed, Allāh is Able to send down a sign, but most of them do not know."
Transliteration
Wa qaaloo lawlaa nuzzila alayhi aayatun min rabbihi qul inna Allaha qadirun ala an yunazzila ayatan wa laakinna aktharahu m laa yaalamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers of Mecca demanded a miraculous sign from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as proof of his prophethood, but Allah responds through the Prophet that Allah is certainly capable of sending signs, yet most of them lack the knowledge and understanding to recognize or accept them. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain that this refusal to send additional signs was a divine wisdom, as the Quran itself is the greatest miracle, and those who reject it would reject even tangible miracles, as evidenced by the stories of other prophets in the same surah.
Revelation Context
This ayah addresses the persistent demands of the Meccan polytheists who sought physical miracles to validate Muhammad's prophecy, despite being presented with the eloquent Quran. It occurs within Surah Al-An'am's broader theme of refuting idolatry and affirming Allah's oneness, reflecting the challenges the Prophet faced during the Meccan period when miraculous signs were repeatedly demanded.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself is referenced as the greatest miracle in multiple hadiths, including statements in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet emphasized that every prophet was given miracles, but he was given the Quran. Additionally, stories throughout Surah Al-An'am (verses 36-91) illustrate how previous peoples rejected prophets despite witnessing clear signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that signs and miracles are abundant from Allah, but true faith requires intellectual honesty and sincere seeking of truth—obstinate hearts will find reasons to reject even the clearest evidences. For believers, it reinforces that the Quran itself is the supreme sign of Allah's guidance, requiring no external validation.
Related Ayahs
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ لَئِن جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌ لَّيُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهَا ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا يُشْعِرُكُمْ أَنَّهَآ إِذَا جَآءَتْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
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.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ
They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided.
۞ لَهُمْ دَارُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
For them will be the Home of Peace [i.e., Paradise] with their Lord. And He will be their protecting friend because of what they used to do.
ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
That is Allāh, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things.