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
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ لِنَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ
Then We made you successors in the land after them so that We may observe how you will do.
وَيُحِقُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
And Allāh will establish the truth by His words, even if the criminals dislike it."
فَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ إِن كُنَّا عَنْ عِبَادَتِكُمْ لَغَـٰفِلِينَ
And sufficient is Allāh as a witness between us and you that we were of your worship unaware."
وَمَا كَانَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ أَن يُفْتَرَىٰ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And it was not [possible] for this Qur’ān to be produced by other than Allāh, but [it is] a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of the [former] Scripture, about which there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds.