وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا ۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ 43
Translations
And those who have disbelieved say, "You are not a messenger." Say, [O Muḥammad], "Sufficient is Allāh as Witness between me and you, and [the witness of] whoever has knowledge of the Scripture."
Transliteration
Wa yaqoolu allatheena kafaroo lasta mursalan qul kafaa billahi shaheedan baynee wa baynakum wa man AAindahu AAilmu alkitabi
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers deny the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) prophethood, but Allah commands him to respond with confidence that Allah Himself is a sufficient witness between him and them, along with whoever possesses knowledge of the Scripture (understood by many classical scholars as referring to Abdullah ibn Salam and other believing People of the Book). This ayah emphasizes that the Prophet's message is self-evident and does not depend on the acceptance of disbelievers, as Allah's testimony supersedes all earthly objections.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader Medinan context where the Prophet (ﷺ) faced persistent denial from the Meccan idolaters and some Jewish tribes in Medina. The surah addresses various forms of disbelief and denial, providing the Prophet with divine reassurance during a period of active resistance to his message.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4970): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best witness is Allah.' This affirms the principle stated in this ayah. Additionally, the incident of Abdullah ibn Salam accepting Islam (Sahih Bukhari 3942) provides historical context for 'whoever possesses knowledge of the Scripture.'
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing rejection or disbelief from others, believers should find solace in Allah's testimony and knowledge rather than depending on human validation. This ayah teaches reliance (tawakkul) on Allah and reminds us that truth is self-evident to those with sincere hearts and genuine knowledge.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَإِن تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا أَءِنَّا لَفِى خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلُ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
And if you are astonished, [O Muḥammad] - then astonishing is their saying, "When we are dust, will we indeed be [brought] into a new creation?" Those are the ones who have disbelieved in their Lord, and those will have shackles upon their necks, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ
It is He who shows you lightning, [causing] fear and aspiration, and generates the heavy clouds.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ
And [the believers among] those to whom We have given the [previous] Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], but among the [opposing] factions are those who deny part of it [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Say, "I have only been commanded to worship Allāh and not associate [anything] with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return."
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ
And those who disbelieved say, "Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, Allāh leaves astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him] -