وَلَقَدْ أَرَيْنَـٰهُ ءَايَـٰتِنَا كُلَّهَا فَكَذَّبَ وَأَبَىٰ 56
Translations
And We certainly showed him [i.e., Pharaoh] Our signs - all of them - but he denied and refused.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad araynahu ayatina kullaha fa-kazzaba wa-aba
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Pharaoh (Fir'awn), to whom Allah showed all of His signs and miracles through Prophet Musa (Moses), yet Pharaoh rejected them and refused to believe or submit. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, despite witnessing the ten plagues and clear proofs of Allah's power, Pharaoh's heart was sealed due to his arrogance and pride, exemplifying how knowledge of truth without sincere hearts leads to rejection.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Surah Taha that recounts the story of Musa and Pharaoh. It is contextually placed after describing the miracles shown to Pharaoh, emphasizing the tragedy of willful rejection despite overwhelming evidence. The ayah highlights Pharaoh's stubbornness as a central theme of this Meccan surah, which addresses the disbelief of the Quraysh.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The worst of people are those who know the truth but reject it' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim describes how hearts become sealed when people persistently reject signs: 'When a person commits a sin, a black dot appears on their heart.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that knowledge of truth alone is insufficient without a sincere and humble heart; true guidance comes to those who are willing to accept it. For modern believers, it serves as a warning against the spiritual disease of arrogance and stubborn rejection, reminding us to examine our hearts when we encounter divine guidance.