أَمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَسْـَٔلُوا۟ رَسُولَكُمْ كَمَا سُئِلَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۗ وَمَن يَتَبَدَّلِ ٱلْكُفْرَ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ 108
Translations
Or do you intend to ask your Messenger as Moses was asked before? And whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way.
Transliteration
Am turīdūna an tas'alū rasūlakum kamā su'ila Mūsā min qablu wa man yatabaddal al-kufra bil-īmān faqad dalla sawā' al-sabīl
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes the Muslims for wanting to question and make excessive demands of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the same manner that the Israelites questioned Prophet Musa (Moses). The ayah warns that whoever exchanges faith (īmān) for disbelief (kufr) has indeed strayed far from the right path. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain that this addresses the tendency of some to seek miraculous signs or make unreasonable requests of the Prophet, similar to how the Children of Israel tested Musa with constant questions and demands.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period and addresses the Muslims' community directly regarding proper conduct with their Prophet. It appears in the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of faith, obedience, and the covenant between Allah and His servants, particularly drawing parallels to the experiences of previous prophets and their nations.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Jundub ibn Abdullah (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Belief) describes the Prophet's forbearance when faced with difficult questions, exemplifying the patience required of a messenger. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the seventy thousand who will enter Paradise without reckoning relates to accepting the Prophet's message without excessive questioning.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should maintain proper respect and trust in their Prophet's guidance without making excessive demands or questioning, understanding that testing faith through constant skepticism mirrors the mistakes of previous communities. Exchanging true belief for doubt or disbelief represents a fundamental loss of spiritual direction that leads one far astray from righteousness.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ وَلَقَدِ ٱصْطَفَيْنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself. And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ لَوْلَا يُكَلِّمُنَا ٱللَّهُ أَوْ تَأْتِينَآ ءَايَةٌ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ ۘ تَشَـٰبَهَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Those who do not know say, "Why does Allāh not speak to us or there come to us a sign?" Thus spoke those before them like their words. Their hearts resemble each other. We have shown clearly the signs to a people who are certain [in faith].
وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْقِصَاصِ حَيَوٰةٌ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And there is for you in legal retribution [saving of] life, O you [people] of understanding, that you may become righteous.
۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought