إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌۢ بِهِۦ جِنَّةٌ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ بِهِۦ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ 25
Translations
He is not but a man possessed with madness, so wait concerning him for a time."
Transliteration
In huwa illa rajulun bihi jinnah fatarabbasoo bihi hatta heen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the accusation of the disbelievers against Prophet Noah, claiming he was merely a man possessed by madness (jinn/mental illness) and instructing people to wait and see what would happen to him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this represents the desperate attempts of the disbelievers to dismiss the Prophet's message by attacking his character rather than engaging with his arguments, a common pattern of rejection throughout history.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Prophet Noah's call to his people in Surah Al-Mu'minun. It reflects the historical response of Noah's community who rejected his 950-year message of monotheism. The broader context of the surah emphasizes the consistency of Allah's messengers and the typical patterns of disbeliever rejection across generations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The most severely tested people are the Prophets, then those nearest to them in piety' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). This relates to the persecution and false accusations prophets face while delivering their message.
Themes
Key Lesson
When confronted with truth they cannot refute, people often resort to personal attacks and dismissal rather than genuine reflection. This teaches believers to remain steadfast in conveying truth with wisdom while recognizing that such rejection is a test of faith, not a reflection of the message's validity.