فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِحَدِيثٍ مِّثْلِهِۦٓ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِينَ 34
Translations
Then let them produce a statement like it, if they should be truthful.
Transliteration
Falya'tū bi-ḥadīth-in mith-lihī in kānū ṣādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a powerful challenge to those who deny the Qur'an's divine origin, commanding them to produce a surah or speech comparable to it if they truly believe their objections are valid. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as evidence of the Qur'an's inimitable nature (i'jāz), as no human has successfully met this challenge despite centuries of attempts. The ayah underscores the Qur'an's linguistic perfection and serves as a logical proof of its divine authorship.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah At-Tur, which addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Qur'an and Muhammad's message. The broader context of Surah 52 deals with the certainty of the Day of Judgment and refutations of polytheistic objections, making this particular verse part of the surah's sustained argument for the Qur'an's divine authenticity.
Related Hadiths
The challenge to produce a surah like the Qur'an is referenced in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:23-24. While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, the concept relates to Imam Al-Shafi'i's arguments about the Qur'an's miraculous nature (mu'jizah) in preserving the Arabic language and meaning simultaneously.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize the Qur'an as a tangible, verifiable miracle whose divine origin can be intellectually defended, and encourages confidence in Islam's rational foundation. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of evidence-based truth claims and the enduring challenge facing those who dismiss revelation without offering substantive alternatives.