أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 38
Translations
Or do they say [about the Prophet (ﷺ)], "He invented it?" Say, "Then bring forth a sūrah like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."
Transliteration
Am yaqooluna iftarahu, qul fa'too bisooratin mithlihi wad'oo mani istata'tum min doonil-lahi in kuntum sadiqeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the Qur'an's miraculous challenge (al-tahaddi) to those who claimed the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) fabricated it: if they truly believed the Qur'an was human-made, they should produce even a single chapter like it and call upon anyone they could besides Allah to help them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this challenge was never met despite the eloquence of pre-Islamic Arabia, proving the Qur'an's divine origin. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this challenge demonstrates the Qur'an's inimitability (i'jaz al-Qur'an) as the greatest miracle of Islam.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islamic revelation when pagan Arabs frequently accused the Prophet of fabricating the Qur'an. It addresses their accusations directly by issuing a rational, verifiable challenge that would silence critics by appealing to their own standards of judgment and expertise in Arabic language and rhetoric.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this verse, the concept of the Qur'an's inimitability is supported by various narrations. The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the Qur'an's miraculous nature as recorded in various collections. This challenge remains unanswered throughout Islamic history, which itself serves as a form of historical confirmation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that truth can be defended through rational challenge and verifiable proof rather than mere assertion; it invites critical thinkers to test claims themselves. For believers today, it reinforces confidence in the Qur'an's divine origin and serves as a reminder that God's signs are accessible to those who genuinely seek understanding.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ۖ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنْ عِندَكُم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍۭ بِهَـٰذَآ ۚ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
They have said, "Allāh has taken a son." Exalted is He; He is the [one] Free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no authority for this [claim]. Do you say about Allāh that which you do not know?
وَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ ٱلضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنۢبِهِۦٓ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَآئِمًا فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُۥ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمْ يَدْعُنَآ إِلَىٰ ضُرٍّ مَّسَّهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And when affliction touches man, he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side or sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he continues [in disobedience] as if he had never called upon Us to [remove] an affliction that touched him. Thus is made pleasing to the transgressors that which they have been doing.
فَٱلْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ ءَايَةً ۚ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا لَغَـٰفِلُونَ
So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.