أَمْ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوا۟ رَسُولَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ 69
Translations
Or did they not know their Messenger, so they are toward him disacknowledging?
Transliteration
Am lam ya'rifoo rasoolahum fahum lahu munkiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question to the disbelievers of Makkah: 'Do they not recognize their Messenger, and so they deny him?' Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as highlighting the absurdity of the Quraysh's rejection—Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known among them for his honesty and trustworthiness before prophethood (Al-Amin), yet they denied his message. The ayah emphasizes that their denial was not based on lack of knowledge of his character, but rather on stubborn rejection and heedlessness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun, a Meccan surah addressing the signs of Allah's existence and the characteristics of true believers. It is part of a passage (verses 66-73) discussing the disbelievers' rejection of the prophets and their denial of resurrection, reflecting the early Meccan period when the Quraysh persistently rejected Prophet Muhammad despite knowing his reputation.
Related Hadiths
In Sahih Bukhari, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) told the Prophet: 'You keep the relations of kinship, speak the truth, help the poor'—attesting to his known righteousness before prophethood. This supports the ayah's implication that they knew him well. Additionally, the hadith in Muslim records the Quraysh calling him 'Al-Amin' (the Trustworthy One) before his mission.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that rejection of divine truth often stems not from ignorance of the messenger's righteousness, but from spiritual heedlessness and the arrogance of the human ego. It reminds believers to examine their own hearts—do we recognize and accept truth when it comes to us, or do we deny it out of pride or attachment to worldly desires?
Related Ayahs
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا۟ فَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أُعِيدُوا۟ فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ
But as for those who defiantly disobeyed, their refuge is the Fire. Every time they wish to emerge from it, they will be returned to it while it is said to them, "Taste the punishment of the Fire which you used to deny."
يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِى وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ شَهِدْنَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِنَا ۖ وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَشَهِدُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَـٰفِرِينَ
"O company of jinn and mankind, did there not come to you messengers from among you, relating to you My verses and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "We bear witness against ourselves"; and the worldly life had deluded them, and they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ ٱلْبَطْشَةَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ
The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.