Tafsir & Commentary
Those who set the Ranks (الصافات) · Meccan
وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ15
37:15
Translation — Sahih International
And say, "This is not but obvious magic.
Transliteration
Wa qalū in hādhā illā siḥrun mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers rejected the Qur'an and the message of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by dismissing it as mere magic or sorcery. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the stubbornness of the Meccan polytheists who, despite the clarity and eloquence of the Qur'an, refused to acknowledge it as divine guidance and instead attributed it to magical deception. This ayah illustrates how those who reject truth often resort to baseless accusations rather than engaging with the message substantively.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
This ayah occurs within the Meccan period when the Quraysh actively opposed Prophet Muhammad's message. The surah addresses the mockery and denials of the disbelievers, and this particular ayah reflects their typical response—accusing the Prophet of sorcery rather than accepting the miraculous nature of the Qur'an as proof of his prophethood.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest magic is truthfulness, and the greatest sorcery is lying' (attributed in various forms). Additionally, Sahih Bukhari contains accounts of how the Quraysh attempted to explain away the Qur'an through false accusations, demonstrating their willful rejection despite clear signs.
Themes
Key Lessons
When confronted with truth, those who refuse to believe often resort to slander and false accusations rather than sincere reflection. Modern readers should recognize this pattern in themselves and others—rejecting divine guidance due to pride, cultural attachment, or personal desires—and instead strive for honest intellectual and spiritual engagement with truth.