وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ كِتَـٰبًا فِى قِرْطَاسٍ فَلَمَسُوهُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ لَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ 7
Translations
And even if We had sent down to you, [O Muḥammad], a written scripture on a page and they touched it with their hands, the disbelievers would say, "This is not but obvious magic."
Transliteration
Wa law nazzalnā 'alayka kitāban fī qirṭāsin falamasu-hu bi-aydīhim la-qāla alladhīna kafarū in hādhā illā sihrun mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the obstinacy of the disbelievers by stating that even if Allah had revealed a written scripture on parchment that they could physically touch with their own hands, they would still reject it and attribute it to sorcery. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this illustrates that the disbelievers' rejection stems not from lack of evidence or clarity, but from their hardened hearts and deliberate denial—a truth exemplified in their response to the Qur'an itself. The ayah emphasizes that no amount of physical proof or tangible evidence could convince those whose hearts are sealed against faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am, revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam when the Quraysh persistently rejected the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and demanded various miraculous signs. The broader context reflects the Meccan phase's focus on refuting polytheism and addressing the disbelievers' excuses and demands for proof, establishing that their rejection is willful rather than evidential.
Related Hadiths
The theme of hearts sealed against truth is reinforced in the hadith: 'The hearts of the disbelievers are hardened' (Qur'an 2:88). Additionally, Tirmidhi records that the Prophet said those who reject the message despite clear signs are like those whose hearts Allah has sealed (referencing Qur'an 16:108).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that intellectual understanding and sensory evidence alone cannot guarantee faith; true acceptance requires an open heart and sincere intention to seek truth. It should humble believers, reminding them that their faith is a blessing from Allah, while encouraging patience with those whose hearts remain closed despite clear signs.
Related Ayahs
قُل لَّآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allāh or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?"
وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًا ۚ وَكُلًّا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot - and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds.
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلَّيْلُ رَءَا كَوْكَبًا ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلْـَٔافِلِينَ
So when the night covered him [with darkness], he saw a star. He said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "I like not those that set [i.e., disappear]."
ثُمَّ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تَمَامًا عَلَى ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَّعَلَّهُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Then We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good [i.e., Moses] and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in the meeting with their Lord they would believe.