وَعَجِبُوٓا۟ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌ مِّنْهُمْ ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ هَـٰذَا سَـٰحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ 4
Translations
And they wonder that there has come to them a warner [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] from among themselves. And the disbelievers say, "This is a magician and a liar.
Transliteration
Wa AAajiboo an jaahum mundhirun minhum wa qala alkafiroon hadha sahirun kadhdhaab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Meccan disbelievers' amazement and rejection when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), one of their own, came to them as a warner from Allah. They dismissed him as a magician and a liar, unable to accept that Allah would send a prophet from among themselves. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that their rejection stemmed from arrogance and denial of the truth, despite the clarity of the message and the trustworthy character of the Messenger.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Sad's Meccan period, addressing the obstinate rejection the Prophet faced from the Quraysh. The broader context (38:1-4) presents the Quraysh's collective denial and their accusations against the Prophet, reflecting the early Meccan period when opposition was most vocal and the disbelievers denied both the Message and the Messenger.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that the Quraysh called the Prophet a magician (sahir) and a liar, which the Prophet endured with patience. Muslim reports hadith related to the disbelievers' accusation: 'They said, "This is nothing but a sorcerer or a madman."' (21:5)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that resistance to truth often comes from pride and denial rather than lack of evidence, and that messengers of Allah face opposition for delivering the divine message—a lesson relevant to those who call others to faith with wisdom and patience.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَحَّرِينَ
They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
They said, "Have you come to delude us away from our gods? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful."
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوا۟ فَسَيَأْتِيهِمْ أَنۢبَـٰٓؤُا۟ مَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
For they have already denied, but there will come to them the news of that which they used to ridicule.
لَّوْ مَا تَأْتِينَا بِٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
Why do you not bring us the angels, if you should be among the truthful?"