أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا ءَامِنًا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ ٱلنَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ ۚ أَفَبِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَكْفُرُونَ 67
Translations
Have they not seen that We made [Makkah] a safe sanctuary, while people are being taken away all around them? Then in falsehood do they believe, and in the favor of Allāh they disbelieve?
Transliteration
Awalam yaraw anna ja'alna haraman aminan wayutakhtatafu an-nasu min hawlihim. Afabi al-batili yu'minun wa-bini'mati Allah yakfurun?
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah points to the miraculous security of Makkah as a clear sign of Allah's power and favor, yet the Quraysh responded with disbelief and ingratitude by rejecting the Message. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that despite the sanctuary's unparalleled safety—where people could not be harmed even by enemies surrounding it—the disbelievers chose falsehood over truth and denied Allah's blessing. The ayah employs rhetorical questioning to emphasize the illogic and ingratitude of their rejection despite such manifest divine protection.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca and addresses the historical reality of the Haram (sacred sanctuary) of Makkah, which maintained unprecedented security even during the pre-Islamic period and throughout the Prophet's mission. It is part of a broader Meccan discourse challenging the Quraysh's refusal to acknowledge the signs of Allah despite living in the most protected city on earth, surrounded by dangerous bedouin tribes.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'This sanctuary (Makkah) is sacred by the oath of Allah, not by the oath of people.' (Sahih Bukhari 1840). Additionally, Jabir reported that the Prophet said regarding Makkah: 'Allah has made this city a sanctuary since the day He created the heavens and earth.' (Sahih Muslim 1355)
Themes
Key Lesson
The ayah teaches Muslims to recognize and express gratitude for divine blessings, both visible and invisible, and warns against the spiritual blindness of rejecting truth despite clear evidence. It invites reflection on how ingratitude toward Allah's protection and guidance leads to spiritual contradiction and moral confusion.