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
فَأَعْرَضُوا۟ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْلَ ٱلْعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلْنَـٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيْهِمْ جَنَّتَيْنِ ذَوَاتَىْ أُكُلٍ خَمْطٍ وَأَثْلٍ وَشَىْءٍ مِّن سِدْرٍ قَلِيلٍ
But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam, and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَأْتِينَا ٱلسَّاعَةُ ۖ قُلْ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّى لَتَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ لَا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَآ أَصْغَرُ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكْبَرُ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ
But those who disbelieve say, "The Hour will not come to us." Say, "Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you. [Allāh is] the Knower of the unseen." Not absent from Him is an atom's weight within the heavens or within the earth or [what is] smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear register -
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it], but most of the people do not know."
۞ قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَإِنَّآ أَوْ إِيَّاكُمْ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى أَوْ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
Say, "Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?" Say, "Allāh. And indeed, we or you are either upon guidance or in clear error."