وَإِذَا رَءَاكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلَّا هُزُوًا أَهَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَذْكُرُ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ 36
Translations
And when those who disbelieve see you, [O Muḥammad], they take you not except in ridicule, [saying], "Is this the one who mentions [i.e., insults] your gods?" And they are, at the mention of the Most Merciful, disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa-idha ra'aka alladhina kafaroo in yattakhidhunaka illa huzuwan ahatha alladhi yadhkuru alihatakum wa-hum bidhikri ar-rahmani hum kafirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the disbelievers of Makkah mocked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when they saw him, taking him only in jest and ridicule. They would sarcastically ask if this is the one who speaks against your gods, while they themselves reject the remembrance and mention of Allah (ar-Rahman). Ibn Kathir notes that their mockery stemmed from their arrogance and rejection of tawhid, and their claim exposes their hypocrisy—they accused the Prophet of insulting their idols while showing complete indifference to the remembrance of the True God.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anbya (revealed in Makkah) and reflects the historical persecution and ridicule the Prophet faced from the Quraysh during the Meccan period. The broader context of the surah emphasizes the stories of previous prophets and their patient endurance against mockery, providing comfort to Muhammad that he was not alone in facing such treatment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that Anas ibn Malik said the disbelievers used to mock the Prophet, and he would respond with patience. Additionally, in Surah Al-Hijr 15:95, the Prophet is commanded: 'Indeed, those who have disbelieved will not harm you' (related thematically to enduring mockery).
Themes
Key Lesson
When faced with mockery or rejection for standing up for the truth and faith, believers should recognize that such treatment is not new—the prophets endured it before—and should remain steadfast in calling to Allah without being deterred. The ayah teaches that those who mock divine guidance while rejecting the remembrance of their Lord reveal their own spiritual blindness and ingratitude, not any deficiency in the message or messenger.