قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِكِتَـٰبٍ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ مِنْهُمَآ أَتَّبِعْهُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 49
Translations
Say, "Then bring a scripture from Allāh which is more guiding than either of them that I may follow it, if you should be truthful."
Transliteration
Qul fa'too bi-kitaab min 'indi Allah huwa ahda minhuma attabi'hu in kuntum sadiqeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to challenge the disbelievers of Mecca to produce a book from Allah that is more guided than the Quran if they claim to be truthful in their objections. This ayah emphasizes the Quran's unparalleled eloquence and divine guidance as definitive proof of its authenticity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this as a powerful challenge to the Arabs, who were masters of language, yet none could produce anything comparable to the Quran's literary and spiritual excellence.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-Qasas, which addresses the Meccan disbelievers' rejection of the Quran and the Prophet. The surah presents narratives (stories) of previous prophets to reinforce the Quran's message. This specific verse serves as a direct challenge to those who questioned the Quran's divine origin, compelling them to either accept it or produce an equivalent revelation—an impossible task that underscores the Quran's miraculous nature (i'jaz al-Quran).
Related Hadiths
The miracle of the Quran's inimitability is referenced in various hadiths, such as in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet challenged the Arabs to produce even ten surahs like the Quran (referencing 2:23). Additionally, there are hadiths emphasizing that the Quran is the greatest miracle given to any prophet.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the Quran's superiority lies not merely in its claims but in its undeniable excellence that can be verified by reason and reflection. For modern believers, it reinforces that challenging the Quran's authenticity requires producing something equal to it—an impossible standard that invites sincere seekers to recognize its divine origin and submit to its guidance.
Related Ayahs
فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنتَصِرِينَ
And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allāh, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ
But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allāh is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient."
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
وَأَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا ۖ إِن كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِى بِهِۦ لَوْلَآ أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And the heart of Moses' mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.