مُسْتَكْبِرِينَ بِهِۦ سَـٰمِرًا تَهْجُرُونَ 67
Translations
In arrogance regarding it, conversing by night, speaking evil.
Transliteration
Mustakbirīn bihī sāmiran tahjurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the disbelievers' arrogant rejection of the Qur'an, spending their nights in frivolous conversation and turning away from it in mockery and disdain. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that 'mustakbirīn' (arrogantly) refers to their haughty attitude toward the message, while 'sāmiran' (by night/in nightly gatherings) indicates they conspired together to ridicule and reject it. The phrase 'tahjurūn' (you turn away/abandon) emphasizes their deliberate abandonment of guidance despite understanding it.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-Mu'minun, which focuses on the characteristics of true believers versus disbelievers. The broader context (23:63-77) describes the Meccan polytheists' rejection of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and their mockery of the Qur'an during nighttime gatherings, reflecting the historical opposition he faced in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4476): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.' This contrasts with those who arrogantly reject it. Additionally, Jami' at-Tirmidhi (2907) relates to rejection of guidance through mockery and turning away from truth.
Themes
Key Lesson
Arrogance and dismissive attitudes toward divine guidance lead to spiritual blindness and loss, while sincere humility and openness to the message are prerequisites for faith. Modern believers should examine whether they approach sacred knowledge with reverence or casual indifference.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَلْفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَا وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا ٱلْكِبْرِيَآءُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
They said, "Have you come to us to turn us away from that upon which we found our fathers and so that you two may have grandeur in the land? And we are not believers in you."
وَإِنِّى كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوٓا۟ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَٱسْتَغْشَوْا۟ ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ ٱسْتِكْبَارًا
And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance.
وَقَـٰرُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ سَـٰبِقِينَ
And [We destroyed] Qārūn and Pharaoh and Hāmān. And Moses had already come to them with clear evidences, and they were arrogant in the land, but they were not outrunners [of Our punishment].
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."