ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ ٱلْوَتِينَ 46
Translations
Then We would have cut from him the aorta.
Transliteration
Thumma laqata'nā minhu al-watīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a hypothetical punishment that would have befallen the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had he fabricated lies against Allah. The 'al-watīn' (the aorta or main artery) represents the vital life force, and 'cutting it' symbolizes a severe, decisive punishment from Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as emphasizing Allah's protection of His Prophet and the absolute falsehood of the accusation that he invented the Quran.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Haqqah, a Meccan surah that addresses deniers of the Resurrection and defends the truthfulness of the Quran and the Prophet. The context is a response to Meccan polytheists who accused Muhammad of fabricating the Quran, and this verse serves as a powerful rhetorical device affirming that Allah would never allow His messenger to invent lies without facing immediate divine retribution.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4474): The Prophet said, 'The most truthful speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad.' This hadith reinforces the theme of the Prophet's truthfulness and the divine origin of the Quran referenced in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that truth backed by divine revelation is absolute and inviolable; those who spread falsehoods against Allah and His message will face severe consequences, reminding us of the importance of safeguarding our words and maintaining honesty in faith and speech.