وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَعَادٌ وَثَمُودُ 42
Translations
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] - so, before them, did the people of Noah and ʿAad and Thamūd deny [their prophets],
Transliteration
Wa in yukazzibuka faqad kazzabat qablahum qawmu Nuh wa Ad wa Thamud
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah provides consolation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by reminding him that rejection of prophets is not unprecedented—the nations of Nuh (Noah), Ad, and Thamud all rejected their messengers before him. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this serves as both historical precedent and assurance that disbelief is not a personal failure of the Prophet, but a recurring pattern of human rejection of divine truth throughout history.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hajj is Medinan and addresses challenges faced by the early Muslim community. This ayah contextualizes the Meccan rejection the Prophet faced within a broader pattern of prophetic rejection across nations. It appears in a section emphasizing the timeless nature of divine guidance and human response to it, providing solace during persecution.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself references similar consolation in Surah Al-An'am 34: 'Messengers have already come to you before me with clear proofs' (Sahih Muslim 152 discusses prophetic trials). Additionally, Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:44 mentions how every nation had a messenger they rejected, substantiating this recurring theme.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing opposition should recognize that resistance to truth is a recurring human pattern, not a sign of the message's invalidity—this realization brings perspective and patience. Furthermore, this ayah teaches that prophets are not responsible for faith itself, only for conveying the message clearly and truthfully.
Related Ayahs
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَـٰنٍ مَّرِيدٍ
And of the people is he who disputes about Allāh without knowledge and follows every rebellious devil.
وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And so those who were given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord and [therefore] believe in it, and their hearts humbly submit to it. And indeed is Allāh the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path.
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۗ فَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ
And for every [religious] community We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allāh over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, [O Muḥammad], give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord]
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ مَدْيَنَ ۖ وَكُذِّبَ مُوسَىٰ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
And the inhabitants of Madyan. And Moses was denied, so I prolonged enjoyment for the disbelievers; then I seized them, and how [terrible] was My reproach.