وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ 34
Translations
And We did not send into a city any warner except that its affluent said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."
Transliteration
Wa mā arsalnā fī qaryatin min nadhīrin illā qāla mutrafūhā innā bimā ursiltum bihī kāfirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that whenever Allah sent a warner (messenger) to any town, the wealthy and affluent among its people rejected the message outright. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the word 'mutrafūhā' (those given to ease and luxury) refers to the elite and privileged classes who were so consumed by worldly pleasures and their status that they refused to accept the divine message, viewing it as a threat to their power and comfort.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surat Saba, a Meccan surah that addresses the Meccan pagans' rejection of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and establishes a historical pattern of resistance to divine guidance. The ayah reflects the broader Meccan context where the wealthy merchants and leaders of Quraysh rejected the Prophet's message, demonstrating that such opposition was not unique to that time but a recurring pattern throughout history.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (6439) where the Prophet said: 'The most misguided people are those who follow their desires without knowledge.' This relates to how the wealthy prioritized their luxurious lifestyles over truth. Additionally, Surah Al-Mudathir (74:11-13) addresses similar arrogance among the wealthy who rejected the Quran.
Themes
Key Lesson
Wealth and social status can become veils that prevent the heart from receiving truth and guidance; believers should remain humble and open to divine wisdom regardless of their worldly position, recognizing that spiritual blindness is far more dangerous than physical blindness.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.
وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ
And he had over them no authority except [it was decreed] that We might make evident who believes in the Hereafter from who is thereof in doubt. And your Lord, over all things, is Guardian.
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"
يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُۥ مَا يَشَآءُ مِن مَّحَـٰرِيبَ وَتَمَـٰثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَٱلْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَـٰتٍ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ
They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful.