وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالُوا۟ قَدْ سَمِعْنَا لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَقُلْنَا مِثْلَ هَـٰذَآ ۙ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 31
Translations
And when Our verses are recited to them, they say, "We have heard. If we willed, we could say [something] like this. This is not but legends of the former peoples."
Transliteration
Wa-idha tutla AAalayhim ayatuna qalou qad samiAAna law nashaa qulna mithla hatha in hatha illa asatiru al-awwaleen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the arrogant response of the disbelievers when the Quranic verses are recited to them—they claim they have heard such things before and could produce similar words if they wished, dismissively calling the Quran merely 'tales of the ancients.' Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this reflects the Quraysh's pride and refusal to acknowledge the Quran's inimitability (i'jaz), despite knowing in their hearts its truth. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that their claim to produce similar verses is an empty boast, as they could never match the Quran's eloquence, wisdom, and miraculous nature.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anfal's discussion of the attitudes of disbelievers during the early Medinan period. It specifically addresses the response of the Meccan disbelievers to the Quranic message, reflecting their consistent rejection despite clear signs. The broader context involves contrasting the believers' obedience with the disbelievers' stubborn denial.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Surah Al-Isra 17:88, which states none can produce something like the Quran even if they gathered together for that purpose. Additionally, Sahih Muslim reports traditions about the Quraysh's baseless accusations against the Prophet ﷺ, including their dismissal of the Quran as 'tales of the ancients' (asatir al-awwaleen).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against the danger of spiritual arrogance and closed-mindedness—those who refuse to genuinely listen to divine guidance often resort to dismissal and mockery as defense mechanisms. For modern readers, it teaches that sincere reflection on sacred texts requires humility and openness, not prideful skepticism.
Related Ayahs
وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ فَـَٔاوَىٰكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things - that you might be grateful.
ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
That is for what your hands have put forth [of evil] and because Allāh is not ever unjust to [His] servants."
إِذْ أَنتُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلْقُصْوَىٰ وَٱلرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّمْ لَٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِى ٱلْمِيعَـٰدِ ۙ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَقْضِىَ ٱللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَىَّ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
[Remember] when you were on the near side of the valley, and they were on the farther side, and the caravan was lower [in position] than you. If you had made an appointment [to meet], you would have missed the appointment. But [it was] so that Allāh might accomplish a matter already destined - that those who perished [through disbelief] would perish upon evidence and those who lived [in faith] would live upon evidence; and indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
إِذْ يُغَشِّيكُمُ ٱلنُّعَاسَ أَمَنَةً مِّنْهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً لِّيُطَهِّرَكُم بِهِۦ وَيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمْ رِجْزَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ وَلِيَرْبِطَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتَ بِهِ ٱلْأَقْدَامَ
[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness [giving] security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet.