Surah Ahqaf Ayat 10 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 10
Say, “Have you considered: if the Qur’an was from Allah, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant…?” Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
Say: “See ye? If (this teaching) be from Allah, and ye reject it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel testifies to its similarity (with earlier scripture), and has believed while ye are arrogant, (how unjust ye are!) truly, Allah guides not a people unjust.”
Tell them, (O Prophet): “Did you consider (what would be your end) if this Qur’an were indeed from Allah and yet you rejected it? And this even though a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to the like of it. But he believed, while you waxed arrogant. Verily Allah does not guide such wrong-doers to the Right Way.
Say: “Tell me! If this (Quran) is from Allah, and you deny it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel (‘Abdullah bin Salam) testifies that this Quran is from Allah [like the Taurat (Torah)], so he believed (embraced Islam) while you are too proud (to believe).” Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, disbelievers and wrong-doing).
Bethink you: If it is from Allah and ye disbelieve therein, and a witness of the Children of Israel hath already testified to the like thereof and hath believed, and ye are too proud (what plight is yours)? Lo! Allah guideth not wrong-doing folk.
Say, “Have you seen that in case it is from the Providence of Allah and you have disbelieved in it, and a witness from among the Seeds (Or: sons) of Israel) testifies to its like and has believed, and you wax proud-surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.”
Say, ‘Have you thought: what if this Quran really is from God and you reject it? What if one of the Children of Israel testifies to its similarity [to earlier scripture] and believes in it, and yet you are too proud to [do the same]? God certainly does not guide evildoers.’
آپ کہہ دیجئے! اگر یہ (قرآن) اللہ ہی کی طرف سے ہو اور تم نے اسے نہ مانا ہو اور بنی اسرائیل کا ایک گواه اس جیسی کی گواہی بھی دے چکا ہو اور وه ایمان بھی ﻻچکا ہو اور تم نے سرکشی کی ہو، تو بیشک اللہ تعالیٰ ﻇالموں کو راه نہیں دکھاتا
Quran 46 Verse 10 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Ahqaf ayat 10, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(46:10) Tell them, (O Prophet): “Did you consider (what would be your end) [13] if this Qur’an were indeed from Allah and yet you rejected it? And this even though a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to the like of it. But he believed, while you waxed arrogant.[14] Verily Allah does not guide such wrong-doers to the Right Way.
13. This same theme has been expressed in another way in (Surah HaMim As-Sajdah, Ayat 62) above. For explanation, see (Surah HaMim As-Sajdah, ayat 52) note 69.
14. A large number of the commentators have taken this witness to imply Abdullah bin Salam, who was a famous Jewish scholar of Madinah, and who believed in the Prophet (peace be upon him) after the migration. As this thing happened in Madinah, these commentators say that this verse was revealed at Madinah. This commentary is based on a statement of Sad bin Abi Waqqas according to which this verse was sent down in respect of Abdullah bin Salam (Bukhari, Muslim, Nasai Ibn Jarir); and on the same basis have several major commentators like Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Dahhak, Ibn Sirin, Hasan Basri, Ibn Zaid and Auf bin Malik al-Ashjai accepted this commentary. But, on the other hand, Ikrimah and Shabi and Masruq say that this verse cannot be about Abdullah bin Salam for this entire Surah was revealed at Makkah. Ibn Jarir Tabari also has preferred this view. He says: The whole previous discourse is an address directed to the pagans of Makkah and the following discourse also is directed to them. In this context it is not conceivable that a verse revealed at Madinah was inserted here. The later commentators who have accepted this second version, do not reject the tradition of Saad bin Abi Waqqas, but have opined that as this verse also applies to Abdullah bin Salam’s affirmation of the faith, Saad expressed the opinion, in the tradition of the ancients, that it was sent down with regard to him. This does not, however, mean that when he believed, it was revealed then about him only, but that this verse precisely applied to him and his acceptance of Islam.
Apparently, this second view seems to be more correct and reasonable. Now, the question that remains to be answered is: Who is implied by this witness? Some of the commentators who have accepted the second view say that it implies the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), but the following sentence: He believed while you showed arrogance, bears no relevance to this explanation. What seems to be nearer the truth is that which the commentator Nisaburi and Ibn Kathir have stated. They say: Here, by a witness is not meant any particular person but a common Israelite. The meaning is this: The teachings that the Quran is presenting before you are not new so that you could deny them by offering the excuse that they were novel teachings which had never been presented before man in the past. Before this these very teachings have been similarly revealed and exist with the Israelites in the form of the Torah and other scriptures, and a common Israelite has already believed in them, and also admitted that Allah’s revelation is a means of the coming down of these teachings. Therefore, you cannot make the claim that revelation and these teachings are incomprehensible. The only thing that hinders you from believing is your arrogance and baseless conceit.
Ibn-Kathir
10. Say: “Tell me! If it was from Allah and you disbelieved it, (at the same time), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you rejected (the truth)!” Verily, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. 11. And those who disbelieve say of those who believe: “Had it been a good thing, they (the poor believers) would not have preceded us to it!” And when they have not been guided by it, they say: “This is ancient falsehood!” 12. And before this was the Scripture of Musa as a guide and a mercy. And this is a Book confirming in the Arabic tongue, to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings for the doers of good. 13. Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is (only) Allah,” and thereafter stand firm, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. 14. Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever) — a reward for what they used to do.
Allah says,
(Say) meaning, `O Muhammad to these idolators who disbelieve in the Qur’an.’
(Tell me! If it was) meaning, this Qur’an.
(from Allah, and you disbelieved in it) meaning, `what do you think that Allah will do to you if this Book that I have come to you with is actually revealed to me from Him in order that I convey it to you, and yet you disbelieve in it and deny it
((at the same time), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar) meaning, `the previous Scriptures that were revealed to the Prophets before me all testify to its truthfulness and authenticity. They have prophecied, well in advance, about things similar to that which this Qur’an informs of.’ Concerning Allah’s statement,
(and believed) `this person who testified to its truthfulness from the Children of Israel, due to his realization that it was the truth.’
(while you rejected (the truth)!) `whereas you have arrogantly refused to follow it.’ Masruq said: “That witness believed in his Prophet and Book, while you disbelieved in your Prophet and Book.”
(Verily, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.) The witness here refers to any witness in general. It includes `Abdullah bin Salam and other from them as well. For indeed, this Ayah was revealed in Makkah before `Abdullah bin Salam had accepted Islam. This is similar to the statement of Allah,
(And when it is recited to them, they say: “We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed, even before it we have been Muslims.”) (28:53) It is also similar to Allah’s saying,
(Verily! Those who were given knowledge before it — when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration, and they say: “Exalted is our Lord! Truly, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled.”) (17:107-108) It has been narrated from Sa`d, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, “I have not heard Allah’s Messenger say about anyone walking on the surface of the earth that he is of the people of Jannah — except for `Abdullah bin Salam. Concerning him the following Ayah was revealed,
((at the same time), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar)” This has been recorded in the Two Sahihs and An-Nasa’i. Similarly, Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, `Ikrimah, Yusuf bin `Abdullah bin Salam, Hilal bin Yasaf, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri, Malik bin Anas and Ibn Zayd all said that this refers to `Abdullah bin Salam. Allah then says,
(And those who disbelieve say of those who believe: “Had it been good, they (the weak and poor) would not have preceded us to it!”) which means that those who disbelieve say of those who believe in the Qur’an: “Had it (the Qur’an) been any good, they (the weak and poor) would not have preceded us to it!” By that, they meant Bilal, `Ammar, Suhayb, Khabbab, may Allah be pleased with them, and others like them of the weak, the male servants, and female servants. The pagans said this only because they thought that they held a high status with Allah, and that He took special care of them. By that, they made a great and obvious error, as Allah says:
(Thus have We tried some of them with others, that they might say: “Is it these whom Allah has favored from among us”) (6:53) meaning, they wonder how could those weaklings be the ones who were guided from among them. Thus, Allah says,
(Had it been good, they (the weak and poor) would not have preceded us to it!) Contrary to this is the position of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah: They say about any act or saying that has not been reported from the Companions: “It is an innovation. If there was any good in it, they would have preceded us in doing it, because they have not left off any of the good characteristics except that they hurried to perform them.” Allah continues,
(And when they have not been guided by it,) meaning, the Qur’an.
(they say: “This is an ancient falsehood!”) meaning, an old lie. They mean by this that the Qur’an has been quoted and taken from the ancient people, thereby belittling the Qur’an and its followers. This is clear arrogance, as Allah’s Messenger said:
((Arrogance is) rejecting the truth and belittling the people.) Allah then says,
(And before this was the Scripture of Musa) and it was the Tawrah.
(as a guide and mercy. And this is a Book) meaning, the Qur’an.
(confirming) meaning, that which came before it of the previous Books.
(in the Arabic tongue,) means that it is eloquent and clear.
(to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings for the doers of good.) meaning, it contains a warning to the dis- believers and glad tidings for the belie- vers. Allah then says:
(Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is (only) Allah,” and thereafter stand firm,) The explanation of this has been dis- cussed earlier in Surat As-Sajdah. ﴿See 41:30﴾ Allah then says,
(on them shall be no fear,) meaning, con- cening their future.
(nor shall they grieve.) meaning, over what they have left behind. Allah continues,
(Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever) — a reward for what they used to do.) meaning, the deeds are a cause for their attaining the mercy and their being engulfed by it — and Allah knows best.
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