يُجَـٰدِلُونَكَ فِى ٱلْحَقِّ بَعْدَ مَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ 6
Translations
Arguing with you concerning the truth after it had become clear, as if they were being driven toward death while they were looking on.
Transliteration
Yujādilūnaka fī al-ḥaqqi ba'da mā tabayyana ka-annama yusāqūn ilā al-mawti wa-hum yanẓurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the disbelievers and hypocrites disputed with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) concerning the truth of Islam even after it had become clear to them, comparing their resistance to condemned criminals being led to their death while watching it approach. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers specifically to the disputations that occurred regarding the Battle of Badr and the permissibility of taking spoils of war, reflecting their stubborn denial despite evident signs. The simile emphasizes both the futility of their argument and their knowledge of truth combined with willful rejection.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period during Surah Al-Anfal, which addresses the events and rulings following the Battle of Badr (2 AH). The specific context involves disputes among the Muslims and hypocrites about the distribution of war spoils and the legitimacy of the battle itself. The ayah serves to characterize the argumentative stance of those who resisted Islamic truth despite its clarity.
Related Hadiths
The hadith narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah in Sahih Muslim describes how some people disputed with the Prophet about matters of the Deen despite clear evidences. Additionally, Surah Al-Anfal 8:5-6 is contextually related to hadiths about the reluctance of some companions regarding Badr, found in Sahih Bukhari and Sunan Ibn Majah regarding the Battle of Badr's circumstances.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that no amount of clear evidence will convince those who have hardened their hearts against truth, reminding believers not to be discouraged by the arguments of dissenters but to remain firm in conveying the message. It also serves as a warning against engaging in meaningless disputes about established truths, and encourages trust in Allah's wisdom regarding those who reject His signs.
Related Ayahs
وَقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ ٱلدِّينُ كُلُّهُۥ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
And fight against them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion [i.e., worship], all of it, is for Allāh. And if they cease - then indeed, Allāh is Seeing of what they do.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَوا۟ وَّنَصَرُوٓا۟ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
But those who have believed and emigrated and fought in the cause of Allāh and those who gave shelter and aided - it is they who are the believers, truly. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.
وَأَعِدُّوا۟ لَهُم مَّا ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِۦ عَدُوَّ ٱللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَءَاخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allāh and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allāh knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allāh will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.
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.