إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ 35
Translations
Indeed they, when it was said to them, "There is no deity but Allāh," were arrogant
Transliteration
Innahum kanu idha qila lahum la ilaha illallahu yastakbiroun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the arrogant rejection of the Meccan polytheists when confronted with the message of Tawhid (monotheism). When told "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah," they responded with pride and disdain rather than reflection. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this arrogance stemmed from their attachment to the religion of their forefathers and their worldly status, preventing them from accepting the truth of Allah's oneness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah As-Saffat, a Meccan surah that addresses the disbelief and stubbornness of the Quraysh during the early Islamic period. The surah focuses on the polytheists' denial and their fate, contextualizing their rejection of Tawhid as rooted in spiritual arrogance rather than intellectual doubt.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most hateful person to Allah is the one who is most proud and arrogant' (related in various hadith collections). Additionally, Surah Al-Hajj 22:8 echoes similar rejection: 'And [there are] among people those who dispute about Allah while they have no knowledge.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns against allowing pride and attachment to tradition to prevent us from accepting divine guidance; true wisdom requires humility before the truth of Allah's oneness, regardless of social status or ancestral practices.