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
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُوقِنِينَ
And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith].
أَوْ تَقُولُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَكُنَّآ أَهْدَىٰ مِنْهُمْ ۚ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ ۚ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَصَدَفَ عَنْهَا ۗ سَنَجْزِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَصْدِفُونَ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْدِفُونَ
Or lest you say, "If only the Scripture had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they." So there has [now] come to you a clear evidence from your Lord and a guidance and mercy. Then who is more unjust than one who denies the verses of Allāh and turns away from them? We will recompense those who turn away from Our verses with the worst of punishment for their having turned away.
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.
ٱتَّبِعْ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Follow, [O Muḥammad], what has been revealed to you from your Lord - there is no deity except Him - and turn away from those who associate others with Allāh.