فَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ جَآءُو بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُنِيرِ 184
Translations
Then if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] - so were messengers denied before you, who brought clear proofs and written ordinances and the enlightening Scripture.
Transliteration
Fa-in kadhdhābūka faqad kudhiba rusulun min qablika jā'ū bil-bayyināti wa-z-zuburi wa-l-kitābi l-munīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah consoles the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regarding rejection by his people, assuring him that previous messengers were also denied despite presenting clear proofs (bayyināt), divine scriptures (zubur), and the illuminating Book (Qur'an). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this verse emphasizes the historical pattern of prophetic rejection and encourages the Prophet not to despair, as denial of messengers is a recurring theme throughout human history.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader Medinan discourse on the verification of divine messages and the trials faced by prophets. It appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of the People of the Book and their rejection of prophetic messages, providing historical reassurance to the Muslim community during periods of opposition.
Related Hadiths
The theme connects to the hadith in Sahih Muslim (2286) where the Prophet stated that every prophet faced trials and harm, yet he remained patient. Additionally, Surah Al-Ankabut (29:18) reinforces this: 'And those before you were rejected, yet they were patient with denial.'
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing rejection or opposition in righteous endeavors, believers should remember that truth-bearers throughout history experienced similar trials, and perseverance in presenting clear evidence with patience is the mark of those on the straight path.
Related Ayahs
لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِى شَىْءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ تُقَىٰةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Let not believers take disbelievers as allies [i.e., supporters or protectors] rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing [i.e., no association] with Allāh, except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allāh warns you of Himself, and to Allāh is the [final] destination.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ وَنُوحًا وَءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَءَالَ عِمْرَٰنَ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Indeed, Allāh chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of ʿImrān over the worlds -
قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
She said, "My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?" [The angel] said, "Such is Allāh; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is.
۞ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
They receive good tidings of favor from Allāh and bounty and [of the fact] that Allāh does not allow the reward of believers to be lost -