وَقَالُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ تَفْجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ يَنۢبُوعًا 90
Translations
And they say, "We will not believe you until you break open for us from the ground a spring
Transliteration
Wa qalū lan nu'mina laka hattā tafjura lanā mina al-ardi yanbu'ā
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers of Mecca demanded miraculous signs from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), specifically asking him to cause a spring to gush forth from the earth as proof of his prophethood. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah illustrates the obstinate rejection of the Meccan polytheists who set impossible conditions for faith, moving the goalposts even when presented with clear signs. Al-Qurtubi notes that their demand was rooted in stubbornness rather than genuine seeking of truth, as they had already witnessed numerous miracles and signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader passage (17:90-99) describing the various impossible demands the Meccan disbelievers made of the Prophet to test his veracity. The surah itself addresses the spiritual journey (isrā') and emphasizes the certainty of resurrection and divine judgment, contrasting the believers' submission with the disbelievers' arrogant rejection and endless demands for miracles.
Related Hadiths
The theme of disbelievers demanding signs is referenced in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 4476) where the Prophet responded to such demands by stating that even if he provided miracles, they would not believe. Similarly, Surah Al-An'am (6:109) conveys that even miraculous signs would not lead to faith for those who reject.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that faith rooted in sincere hearts requires no conditions—those who demand miracles often do so from arrogance rather than genuine seeking. For believers today, it reminds us that demanding signs from Allah or setting conditions on our submission reflects spiritual heedlessness; true faith comes from humility and openness to divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَآ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا۟ خِلَـٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَّفْعُولًا
So when the [time of] promise came for the first of them, We sent against you servants of Ours - those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled.
وَإِن كَادُوا۟ لَيَفْتِنُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ لِتَفْتَرِىَ عَلَيْنَا غَيْرَهُۥ ۖ وَإِذًا لَّٱتَّخَذُوكَ خَلِيلًا
And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you in order to [make] you invent about Us something else; and then they would have taken you as a friend.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ قَالَ ءَأَسْجُدُ لِمَنْ خَلَقْتَ طِينًا
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He said, "Should I prostrate to one You created from clay?"
أَوْ تُسْقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمْتَ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا أَوْ تَأْتِىَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ قَبِيلًا
Or you make the heaven fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed or you bring Allāh and the angels before [us]