أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِّثْلِهِۦ مُفْتَرَيَـٰتٍ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 13
Translations
Or do they say, "He invented it"? Say, "Then bring ten sūrahs like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."
Transliteration
Am yaqulūna iftarāhu qul fa'tū bi'ashri suwarin mithlihi muftarayātin wad'ū mani istata'tum min dūni Allāhi in kuntum sādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The ayah presents a powerful challenge to those who claimed the Qur'an was fabricated by the Prophet Muhammad—if they truly believed this, they should produce ten surahs like it, calling upon anyone besides Allah to help them if they were truthful. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this as evidence of the Qur'an's miraculous nature (i'jāz), as neither the disbelievers nor all of humanity combined could ever match its eloquence, wisdom, and linguistic perfection. The challenge gradually increased in difficulty: from ten surahs (11:13) to one surah (2:23), ultimately demonstrating the impossibility of replicating the Qur'an.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period when the Meccan pagans were actively opposing the Prophet and spreading false claims about the divine origin of the Qur'an. The surah of Hud addresses various accusations against the Prophet and provides rational arguments refuting the disbelievers' objections.
Related Hadiths
The concept of the Qur'an's inimitability (i'jāz) is discussed throughout Islamic literature. While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah's challenge, Imam Al-Suyuti's work on i'jāz documents numerous accounts of people converting upon hearing the Qur'an's magnificent recitation, supporting the challenge's implicit premise.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the Qur'an's perfection is accessible to reason and observation—believers need not rely solely on faith but can recognize the text's miraculous nature through intellectual examination. For modern readers, it emphasizes that faith in Islam is rational and evidence-based, inviting sincere seekers to study the Qur'an's unparalleled beauty and consistency.
Related Ayahs
فَلَوْلَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ أُو۟لُوا۟ بَقِيَّةٍ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْفَسَادِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّنْ أَنجَيْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مَآ أُتْرِفُوا۟ فِيهِ وَكَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
So why were there not among the generations before you those of enduring discrimination forbidding corruption on earth - except a few of those We saved from among them? But those who wronged pursued what luxury they were given therein, and they were criminals.
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ إِنِ ٱفْتَرَيْتُهُۥ فَعَلَىَّ إِجْرَامِى وَأَنَا۠ بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُجْرِمُونَ
Or do they say [about Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)], "He invented it"? Say, "If I have invented it, then upon me is [the consequence of] my crime; but I am innocent of what [crimes] you commit."
وَكُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَ ۚ وَجَآءَكَ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers.
إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ فَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَ فِرْعَوْنَ ۖ وَمَآ أَمْرُ فِرْعَوْنَ بِرَشِيدٍ
To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they followed the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was not [at all] discerning.