أَوْ يُلْقَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ كَنزٌ أَوْ تَكُونُ لَهُۥ جَنَّةٌ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا ۚ وَقَالَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَّسْحُورًا 8
Translations
Or [why is not] a treasure presented to him [from heaven], or does he [not] have a garden from which he eats?" And the wrongdoers say, "You follow not but a man affected by magic."
Transliteration
Aw yulqa ilayhi kanzun aw takunu lahu jannatin ya'kulu minha wa qala al-zalimun in tattabi'un illa rajulan mashuran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the objections of the Meccan disbelievers against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who demanded miraculous signs as proof of his prophethood. The disbelievers sarcastically suggested that if he were truly a prophet, Allah should grant him a treasure or garden from which he could eat. Ibn Kathir notes that this represents their stubborn rejection and unreasonable demands, while Al-Tabari emphasizes that they accused the Prophet of being bewitched (mashuran) rather than accepting his message, thereby attributing his eloquence and influence to magic rather than divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader Meccan context addressing the disbelievers' persistent rejection of the Prophet's message despite clear signs. Surah Al-Furqan responds to various objections raised by the Quraysh, including their demand for material miracles and their attempt to discredit the Prophet by claiming he was under a magic spell.
Related Hadiths
Related to the broader theme of rejection and accusations, though no specific hadith directly addresses this verse. However, the theme resonates with the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the disbelievers demanded: 'Why was not this Qur'an revealed to a man of the two great cities?' (Makkah and Al-Madinah), showing their persistent objections to the Prophet's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the rejection of truth often stems not from lack of evidence but from spiritual hardness of the heart and predetermined bias. Modern readers should recognize that some people will demand endless proof while simultaneously attributing good deeds to worldly causes, and we should focus on conveying the message clearly rather than being discouraged by irrational objections.