وَٱنطَلَقَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِنْهُمْ أَنِ ٱمْشُوا۟ وَٱصْبِرُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ يُرَادُ 6
Translations
And the eminent among them went forth, [saying], "Continue, and be patient over [the defense of] your gods. Indeed, this is a thing intended.
Transliteration
Wa-ntalaqa al-mala'u minhum ani-mshū wa-isbiru 'alā ālihatikum, inna hādhā la-shay'un yurād
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Meccan leaders and nobles gathered together, urging one another to remain steadfast upon their idols and false gods, recognizing that the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) posed a deliberate threat to their way of life and religious authority. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their phrase 'Inna hādhā la-shay'un yurād' (Indeed, this is something intended/planned) shows they understood the Prophet's call was systematic and purposeful, not fleeting—yet they chose stubborn resistance rather than investigation of the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah Sad, which describes the Meccan polytheists' hostile response to the Qur'anic message. The ayah specifically depicts the moment when the leaders conspired to maintain their idolatrous system and encourage their people not to abandon their false deities, exemplifying the organized opposition the Prophet faced during the Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
The general theme relates to Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Muslim where Allah describes those who reject faith out of arrogance despite recognizing the truth. Additionally, various hadiths in Sahih Bukhari document how Quraysh leaders explicitly recognized the truth of the Prophet's message but rejected it out of tribal pride and fear of losing power.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that resistance to truth often stems not from ignorance but from deliberate choice rooted in ego, fear of losing status, and attachment to falsehood. Modern readers should reflect on how personal interests and pride can blind us to truth, and remain vigilant against following leaders who counsel persistence in error merely to preserve their authority.