أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ قَالَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ 2
Translations
Have the people been amazed that We revealed [revelation] to a man from among them, [saying], "Warn mankind and give good tidings to those who believe that they will have a [firm] precedence of honor with their Lord"? [But] the disbelievers say, "Indeed, this is an obvious magician."
Transliteration
A-kana lin-nasi ajaban an awhayna ila rajulin minhum an andhir an-nasa wa bashshir alladhina amanu anna lahum qadama sidqin inda rabbihim. Qala al-kafirun inna hadha la-sahirun mubin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelief of the Meccan polytheists who found it strange that Allah revealed His message to a man from among them (Prophet Muhammad) tasking him to warn mankind and give glad tidings to the believers of an honored station with their Lord. The disbelievers' rejection and accusation of sorcery is presented as their foolish response to this divine revelation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this reaction was rooted in arrogance—they could not accept that prophethood came to someone of their own humanity rather than in a form that would compel belief.
Revelation Context
This ayah opens the surah of Yunus and addresses the early Meccan opposition to Prophet Muhammad's message. It reflects the historical context where the Quraysh rejected the Prophet's call, finding it implausible that an ordinary man from their midst could be a messenger of Allah. The surah broadly addresses objections to revelation and prophethood, establishing the legitimacy of the Prophet's mission.
Related Hadiths
The Hadith in Sahih Bukhari (6:507) where the Prophet said, 'The best of you are those who have the best character,' relates to accepting prophets based on their character rather than outward appearances. Additionally, Muslim's collection records that the disbelievers' accusation of sorcery was their common refrain against the Prophet, reflecting the ayah's historical accuracy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that opposition to truth often stems from arrogance and prejudice rather than rational objection, and reminds believers that their faith is rewarded with honor before Allah regardless of worldly mockery. It encourages patience in the face of ridicule and strengthens conviction that truth needs no validation from skeptics.
Related Ayahs
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ كَأَن لَّمْ يَلْبَثُوٓا۟ إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّهَارِ يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَدْ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُهْتَدِينَ
And on the Day when He will gather them, [it will be] as if they had not remained [in the world] but an hour of the day, [and] they will know each other. Those will have lost who denied the meeting with Allāh and were not guided.
وَلَقَدْ بَوَّأْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدْقٍ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ فَمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِى بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
And We had certainly settled the Children of Israel in an agreeable settlement and provided them with good things. And they did not differ until [after] knowledge had come to them. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
Those who believed and were fearing Allāh.
دَعْوَىٰهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَـٰمٌ ۚ وَءَاخِرُ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ أَنِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Their call therein will be, "Exalted are You, O Allāh," and their greeting therein will be, "Peace." And the last of their call will be, "Praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds!"