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
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآؤُكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will gather them all together; then We will say to those who associated others with Allāh, "Where are your 'partners' that you used to claim [with Him]?"
مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُۥ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَن جَآءَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰٓ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ۚ فَإِن يَكْفُرْ بِهَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ فَقَدْ وَكَّلْنَا بِهَا قَوْمًا لَّيْسُوا۟ بِهَا بِكَـٰفِرِينَ
Those are the ones to whom We gave the Scripture and authority and prophethood. But if they [i.e., the disbelievers] deny it, then We have entrusted it to a people who are not therein disbelievers.
سَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَآ أَشْرَكْنَا وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ ذَاقُوا۟ بَأْسَنَا ۗ قُلْ هَلْ عِندَكُم مِّنْ عِلْمٍ فَتُخْرِجُوهُ لَنَآ ۖ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَإِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا تَخْرُصُونَ
Those who associated [others] with Allāh will say, "If Allāh had willed, we would not have associated [anything] and neither would our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything." Likewise did those before deny until they tasted Our punishment. Say, "Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us? You follow not except assumption, and you are not but misjudging."