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
يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّآ أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلنَّاسَ سُكَـٰرَىٰ وَمَا هُم بِسُكَـٰرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ ٱللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ
On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are not intoxicated; but the punishment of Allāh is severe.
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols [i.e., rites] of Allāh; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allāh upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy [who does not seek aid] and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْـًٔا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform ṭawāf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.
وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّنْهُ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَقِيمٍ
But those who disbelieve will not cease to be in doubt of it until the Hour comes upon them unexpectedly or there comes to them the punishment of a barren Day.