قَالَ إِن كُنتَ جِئْتَ بِـَٔايَةٍ فَأْتِ بِهَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ 106
Translations
[Pharaoh] said, "If you have come with a sign, then bring it forth, if you should be of the truthful."
Transliteration
Qala in kunta ji'ta bi-ayatin fa'ti biha in kunta mina as-sadiqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh responds to Moses' call to worship Allah alone by demanding he produce a miraculous sign (ayah) if he truly speaks the truth. This ayah captures Pharaoh's arrogant challenge, testing whether Moses can substantiate his prophetic claim. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that Pharaoh's demand, while superficially reasonable, stemmed from his spiritual blindness and denial, as he had already witnessed numerous signs and refused to believe.
Revelation Context
This verse occurs within the dialogue between Moses and Pharaoh in Surah Al-A'raf, which recounts the historical encounter when Moses came to Pharaoh with the message of monotheism. The broader context shows Pharaoh's successive rejections and demands for miracles, representing the archetypal conflict between divine truth and human arrogance and disbelief.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned in various ahadith (Sahih Muslim and others) that Moses performed clear miracles including the staff turning into a serpent and the splitting of the sea, validating the Quranic account of these events.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that those who deny truth often demand endless signs while remaining spiritually hardened; we should recognize that true guidance comes from sincere hearts willing to accept evidence, not from obstinate demands for proof when one's ego refuses submission to Allah's will.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى ٱصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَـٰلَـٰتِى وَبِكَلَـٰمِى فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
[Allāh] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful."
وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shuʿayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. So fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive people of their due and cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better for you, if you should be believers.
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتِهِمَآ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.
وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ
And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.