وَمَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مِّن كُتُبٍ يَدْرُسُونَهَا ۖ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَكَ مِن نَّذِيرٍ 44
Translations
And We had not given them any scriptures which they could study, and We had not sent to them before you, [O Muḥammad], any warner.
Transliteration
Wa mā ātaynāhum min kutubiyya yadrusūnahā wa mā arsalnā ilayhim qablaka min nadhīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that the Quraysh were not given any scriptures to study, nor were they sent any warner before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as emphasizing the uniqueness of the Quranic revelation and the unprecedented nature of Muhammad's prophethood among the Arabs, removing any excuse for their rejection of the message. The ayah serves to highlight that the disbelievers cannot claim ignorance, as they are now receiving clear guidance directly from Allah through the Prophet.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Saba (a Meccan surah) within the context of addressing the Quraysh's rejection and denial of the Prophet's message despite the clear signs presented to them. The surah discusses how previous nations were given prophets and scriptures, contrasting with the Quraysh's initial condition before receiving the Quranic revelation.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Hadith Qudsi where Allah states the responsibility of those who receive divine guidance. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said, 'The best of you are those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them,' emphasizing the honor of being among the first recipients of clear guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that receiving clear divine guidance carries profound responsibility and eliminates excuses for spiritual complacency; it also encourages reflection on one's own acceptance or rejection of truth in light of the clarity available to us today.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَقْذِفُ بِٱلْحَقِّ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
Say, "Indeed, my Lord projects the truth, Knower of the unseen."
فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ ٱلْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَوْتِهِۦٓ إِلَّا دَآبَّةُ ٱلْأَرْضِ تَأْكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُۥ ۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ ٱلْجِنُّ أَن لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْغَيْبَ مَا لَبِثُوا۟ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْمُهِينِ
And when We decreed for him [i.e., Solomon] death, nothing indicated to them [i.e., the jinn] his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ بَلْ مَكْرُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "Rather, [it was your] conspiracy of night and day when you were ordering us to disbelieve in Allāh and attribute to Him equals." But they will [all] confide regret when they see the punishment; and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved. Will they be recompensed except for what they used to do?
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوٓا۟ أَنَحْنُ صَدَدْنَـٰكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْهُدَىٰ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَكُم ۖ بَلْ كُنتُم مُّجْرِمِينَ
Those who were arrogant will say to those who were oppressed, "Did we avert you from guidance after it had come to you? Rather, you were criminals."