بَلْ عَجِبُوٓا۟ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَقَالَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ هَـٰذَا شَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ 2
Translations
But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say, "This is an amazing thing.
Transliteration
Bal 'ajiboo an jaa'ahum mundhirun minhum faqaala al-kafiroona hadha shay'un 'ajeeb
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers marveled and were astounded that a warner (the Prophet Muhammad) came to them from among themselves, considering it a strange and unprecedented thing. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their amazement stemmed from their arrogance and rejection of the truth, as they expected any messenger to be from the angels rather than from ordinary human beings like themselves. Al-Qurtubi notes that this reaction reveals the spiritual blindness of the deniers, who rejected the divine wisdom in sending a relatable messenger who shared their language, customs, and human nature.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Qaf, a Meccan chapter that addresses the disbelievers' denial of prophecy and the resurrection. The ayah responds to the Quraysh's mockery of Prophet Muhammad's humanity—they rejected him precisely because he was a human messenger rather than an angel, failing to recognize that divine mercy dictates sending messengers from among people so they can understand and follow the message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said in Sahih Muslim: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family.' This hadith reflects how the Prophet's humanity and relatability were central to his prophetic mission. Additionally, in Surah 14:4, Allah explains: 'We did not send any messenger except in the language of his people'—emphasizing the wisdom in sending human messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
The ayah teaches that God's choice to send messengers from among humanity is an act of mercy and wisdom, not a deficiency. For believers today, it reminds us that a messenger's humanity is not grounds for rejection but rather proof of divine compassion—we should follow guidance based on its truth, not on unrealistic expectations of who should deliver it.