وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ ۙ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا ٱئْتِ بِقُرْءَانٍ غَيْرِ هَـٰذَآ أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ ۚ قُلْ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنْ أُبَدِّلَهُۥ مِن تِلْقَآئِ نَفْسِىٓ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ 15
Translations
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Bring us a Qur’ān other than this or change it." Say, [O Muḥammad], "It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."
Transliteration
Wa-idha tutla 'alayhim ayatuna bayyinat, qala alladhina la yarjuna liqaa'ana i'ti biqur'anin ghayri hadha aw baddilhu. Qul ma yakunu li an ubaddilahu min tilqa'i nafsi. In attabi'u illa ma yuhsa ilayya. Inni akhafu in 'asaytu rabbi 'adhaba yawmin 'adhim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the clear signs of Allah are recited to those who do not hope to meet Him, they arrogantly demand that the Prophet bring a different Qur'an or alter it. The Prophet's response affirms the immutability of the divine revelation—he has no authority to change it by his own initiative, but follows only what is divinely revealed. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this ayah establishes the Qur'an's preservation and the Prophet's complete submission to divine guidance, not human whim or pressure.
Revelation Context
This ayah addresses the Meccan polytheists' rejection of the Qur'an and their demands for a 'convenient' revelation. It falls within Surah Yunus's broader theme of refuting disbelief and affirming the authenticity of the Qur'anic message during the early Meccan period when opposition to the Prophet was most intense.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 4974) where the Prophet said, 'I have not been commanded to change the Qur'an,' reflects this principle. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains traditions about the Qur'an's inviolability and the Prophet's faithfulness in conveying it unchanged.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that divine truth is immutable and cannot be compromised to appease human desires or cultural pressures. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of steadfast adherence to revealed guidance and fear of Allah above fear of human criticism or demands for convenience.