وَإِن تُكَذِّبُوا۟ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أُمَمٌ مِّن قَبْلِكُمْ ۖ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ 18
Translations
And if you [people] deny [the message] - already nations before you have denied. And there is not upon the Messenger except [the duty of] clear notification.
Transliteration
Wa-in tukadhdhihu faqad kadhdhaba umamun min qablikum wa-ma 'ala ar-rasuli illa al-balagh al-mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah consoles Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by reminding him that rejection of the message is not unprecedented—many nations before rejected their messengers, yet the messenger's duty remains only to convey the message clearly. Ibn Kathir notes this verse emphasizes that the Prophet's responsibility is limited to clear communication of the Qur'an, not to force belief, as guidance is ultimately from Allah alone. Al-Qurtubi highlights that this provides solace during times of persecution and rejection the Prophet faced in Mecca.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. This surah was revealed when the Meccans rejected the Prophet's call, and this particular ayah contextualizes their rejection within the broader pattern of human history where previous nations also denied their messengers. It serves to strengthen the Prophet's resolve and comfort the believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them' (Sahih Bukhari 2652), illustrating how even the best generation faced rejection. Also related: 'There is no messenger whom Allah sent but that some of his people believed and some disbelieved' (Sahih Muslim 152).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing opposition or mockery for their faith should remember that rejection of divine messages is not personal failure but a recurring pattern in human history; our responsibility is only to convey the message with clarity and sincerity, while leaving the outcome to Allah's wisdom.
Related Ayahs
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ
But they denied him, so the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.
وَعَادًا وَثَمُودَا۟ وَقَد تَّبَيَّنَ لَكُم مِّن مَّسَـٰكِنِهِمْ ۖ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَكَانُوا۟ مُسْتَبْصِرِينَ
And [We destroyed] ʿAad and Thamūd, and it has become clear to you from their [ruined] dwellings. And Satan had made pleasing to them their deeds and averted them from the path, and they were endowed with perception.
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلْفَـٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, "Indeed, you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds.
وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allāh will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.