أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْهُ وَمِن قَبْلِهِۦ كِتَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۚ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ فَٱلنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُۥ ۚ فَلَا تَكُ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 17
Translations
So is one who [stands] upon a clear evidence from his Lord [like the aforementioned]? And a witness from Him follows it, and before it was the Scripture of Moses to lead and as mercy. Those [believers in the former revelations] believe in it [i.e., the Qur’ān]. But whoever disbelieves in it from the [various] factions - the Fire is his promised destination. So be not in doubt about it. Indeed, it is the truth from your Lord, but most of the people do not believe.
Transliteration
Afaman kana alaa bayyinatin min rabbih wa yatlooh shahidun minhu wa min qablihi kitaabu moosaa imaman wa rahmatan. Ulaika yu'minoon bihi. Wa man yakfur bihi min al-ahzab fa al-naru maw'iduhu. Fala taku fee mirya minhu. Innahu al-haqqu min rabbika wa lakin akthara an-nasi la yu'minoon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah compares the believer who possesses clear evidence (bayyinah) from Allah and follows the Qur'an, testified to by a witness from among the Qur'an itself and preceded by the Torah of Musa as guidance and mercy. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that the ayah refers to those who believe in the Qur'an based on clear proofs, and that the Torah and Qur'an are mutually supporting texts. Those who reject this truth from among the various groups (al-ahzab) are promised the Fire as their destination, emphasizing the grave consequence of rejecting clear divine guidance despite its coherence with previous scriptures.
Revelation Context
Surah Hud addresses the Makkan polytheists who rejected the Prophet Muhammad despite the clear signs brought to them. This ayah comes in the context of refuting those who turn away from the Qur'an and divine guidance, emphasizing that the message of Islam is consistent with previous divine revelations and therefore unassailable in its truth.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of the 'Itq (freeing of slaves) in Sahih Bukhari relates to those who believe in clear signs, and the hadith in Sahih Muslim (4/2257) regarding the testimony of the Qur'an itself as a witness (shahid) to its own truth. Additionally, the hadith concerning the People of the Book recognizing the truth of the Qur'an (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman) is thematically relevant.
Themes
Key Lesson
For modern believers, this ayah teaches that faith in the Qur'an and Islam rests upon clear rational and textual evidence, not blind following, and that one should not doubt the truth of this guidance despite widespread disbelief around them. The emphasis on the Qur'an being attested to by the Torah reminds us that truth has internal coherence and consistency, and that rejecting clear signs without valid reason leads to spiritual ruin.