وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ فَأَبَىٰٓ أَكْثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ إِلَّا كُفُورًا 89
Translations
And We have certainly diversified for the people in this Qur’ān from every [kind of] example, but most of the people refused except disbelief.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad sarrrafnā li-n-nāsi fī hādhā l-qur'āni min kulli mathalin fa-abā aktharu n-nāsi illā kufūrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah states that He has presented in the Qur'an every type of example and parable for mankind in diverse and varied ways to facilitate understanding and guidance, yet the majority of people stubbornly reject the truth and persist in disbelief. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that despite Allah's provision of clear signs and multiple approaches to convey the message, human arrogance and heedlessness prevent acceptance. This ayah highlights the tragedy of choosing ingratitude (kufr) over divine guidance despite abundant evidence and clarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan chapter revealed during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. The context reflects the Meccan polytheists' persistent rejection despite numerous miracles and clear teachings, emphasizing that the Qur'an's clarity and comprehensiveness cannot be attributed to any deficiency in the message itself.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth; some of which is fertile land that absorbs water and brings forth vegetation and pasture in abundance...' (Sahih Bukhari 79). This hadith parallels the ayah's theme of varied receptivity to divine guidance despite its clarity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that clarity of divine truth does not guarantee acceptance, as choice and free will remain with humanity; our responsibility is to convey the message with wisdom and patience, understanding that ultimate guidance rests with Allah alone. For modern readers, it is a humbling reminder against despair in da'wah work and an encouragement to examine our own hearts for hidden arrogance that might prevent us from accepting truth.
Related Ayahs
قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ فَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ ٱلضُّرِّ عَنكُمْ وَلَا تَحْوِيلًا
Say, "Invoke those you have claimed [as gods] besides Him, for they do not possess the [ability for] removal of adversity from you or [for its] transfer [to someone else]."
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And they ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair [i.e., concern] of my Lord. And you [i.e., mankind] have not been given of knowledge except a little."
قُل لَّئِنِ ٱجْتَمَعَتِ ٱلْإِنسُ وَٱلْجِنُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتُوا۟ بِمِثْلِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا
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."
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَـٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا
Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower.