قُل لَّئِنِ ٱجْتَمَعَتِ ٱلْإِنسُ وَٱلْجِنُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتُوا۟ بِمِثْلِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا 88
Translations
Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur’ān, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants."
Transliteration
Qul la'in ijtama'at al-insu wa-al-jinnu 'ala an ya'tu bi-mithli hadha al-Qur'ani la ya'tuna bi-mithlihi wa-law kana ba'duhum li-ba'din zahira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a definitive challenge (i'jaz) to humanity and jinn combined: even if they united their efforts and resources, they could not produce a chapter similar to the Qur'an. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as conclusive proof of the Qur'an's divine origin and miraculous nature (i'jaz al-Qur'an), as it surpasses human linguistic and rhetorical capabilities. The phrase 'even if some of them were allies to others' underscores the impossibility despite collective human and supernatural effort.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Meccan period when the Quraysh and their allies denied the Qur'an's divine origin and challenged the Prophet Muhammad. It appears within the thematic context of Surah Al-Isra, which addresses disbelievers' objections and presents evidence of divine truth. The challenge responds directly to those who rejected the Qur'an as merely human composition.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in reports about the Prophet's challenge to the disbelievers. While no single hadith directly quotes this ayah's challenge, the broader tradition in Sunan Al-Darimi and other collections documents how scholars used this ayah to demonstrate the Qur'an's inimitability against those claiming human authorship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the Qur'an's eloquence, wisdom, and spiritual depth transcend human capability, serving as an eternal proof of its divine authorship. For believers, it strengthens faith through rational evidence; for skeptics, it presents an open challenge that has remained unanswered throughout history, inviting reflection on truth.