أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ إِنِ ٱفْتَرَيْتُهُۥ فَعَلَىَّ إِجْرَامِى وَأَنَا۠ بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُجْرِمُونَ 35
Translations
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."
Transliteration
Am yaqulūna iftaraahu. Qul in iftaraytuhu fa-'alayya ijrāmī wa-anā barī'un mimmmā tujrimūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelievers' accusation that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) fabricated the Qur'an. Allah commands him to respond by stating that if he had indeed forged it, the sin would be upon him alone, and he disassociates himself from their crimes and sins. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this response serves both as a refutation of their false claim and a demonstration of the Prophet's integrity and confidence in the truth of the Qur'an's divine origin.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Hud, a Meccan surah that extensively addresses the accusations of the disbelievers against the Prophet and presents the stories of previous messengers who faced similar rejections. The specific context is the confrontation with those who denied the Qur'an's authenticity, reflecting the persistent opposition the Prophet faced in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The principle of individual accountability in this ayah aligns with Sahih Bukhari's hadith: 'Each soul will know what it has sent forward and kept back.' Additionally, Surah 74:10-11 relates thematically, addressing similar accusations about the Qur'an being the Prophet's fabrication.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that truth ultimately stands on its own merits and requires unwavering confidence despite false accusations. It reminds us that each person bears responsibility only for their own actions, and that maintaining integrity and sincerity is the strongest defense against slander.