Surah Al-An’am Ayat 91 (6:91 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

(6:91) They did not form any proper estimate of Allah when they said: ‘Allah has not revealed anything to any man.’^[59] Ask them: ‘The Book which Moses brought as a light and guidance for men and which you keep in bits and scraps, some of which you disclose while the rest you conceal, even though through it you were taught that which neither you nor your forefathers knew -who was it who revealed it?’^[60] Say: ‘Allah!’- and then leave them to sport with their argumentation.

59. In the light of the foregoing discussion and commentary, it is quite evident that this statement comes from the Jews. Since the Prophet (peace be on him) had asserted that he was a Prophet and that a Book had been revealed to him, the unbelieving Quraysh and other polytheists of Arabia naturally used to approach the Jews and the Christians – who believed in the Prophets and in the Scriptures – and tried to solicit a candid answer from them as to whether God’s words had indeed been revealed to Muhammad (peace be on him). Whatever answer they gave was then disseminated on all sides by the active opponents of the Prophet (peace be on him) in order to create revulsion against Islam. This is the reason for mentioning, and then refuting, this statement by the Jews, which had been used by the opposition as an argument against Islam.

One might wonder how a Jew, who believes in the Torah as a revealed Book of God, could say that God had revealed nothing to anyone. At times blind obstinacy and bigotry cause people to resort to arguments which strike at the roots of their own belief. These people were bent upon denying the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be on him), and this fanaticism had come to dominate them so much that they went so far as to deny the very institution of prophethood.

To say that peopte have not formed any proper estimate of God means that they have erred grossly in assessing His wisdom and power. Whoever says that God did not reveal knowledge of Reality and the code for man’s guidance has fallen into one of two errors. Either he considers it impossible for man to become the recipient of God’s revelation, and this constitutes a gross misjudgement of God’s power, or he thinks that even though God has equipped man with intelligence and with the power to act as he chooses, He has nevertheless made no arrangement for his guidance, but has left him in this world altogether unguided and thus conferred upon him the right to behave in any way he likes. This is obviously a misjudgement of God’s wisdom.

60. The revelation of the Torah to Moses (peace be on him) is adduced by way of evidence since the Jews, to whom this response is addressed, believed that it had been revealed. It is obvious that their recognition of the Torah as the Book revealed to Moses negated their standpoint that God had never revealed anything to any human being. Their belief in the Torah at least proved that revelation to man is possible, and had actually taken place.

Ibn-Kathir

91. They did not estimate Allah with an estimation due to Him when they said: “Nothing did Allah send down to any human being (by inspiration).” Say : “Who then sent down the Book which Musa brought, a light and a guidance to mankind which you (the Jews) have made into (separate) papersheets, disclosing (some of it) and concealing much. And you were taught that which neither you nor your fathers knew.” Say: “Allah (sent it down).” Then leave them to play in their vain discussions. 92. And this is a blessed Book which We have sent down, confirming what came before it, so that you may warn the Mother of Towns and all those around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they are constant in guarding their Salah.

Allah says that those who rejected His Messengers did not give Allah due consideration. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and `Abdullah bin Kathir said that this Ayah was revealed about the Quraysh. It was also said that it was revealed about some Jews.

(They said: “Nothing did Allah send down to any human being (by inspiration).”) Allah also, said,

(Is it a wonder for mankind that We have inspired to a man from among themselves (saying): “Warn mankind.”) ﴿10:2﴾, and,

(And nothing prevented men from believing when the guidance came to them, except that they said: “Has Allah sent a man as Messenger” Say: “If there were on the earth, angels walking about in peace and security, We should certainly have sent down for them from the heaven an angel as a Messenger.”) ﴿17:94-95﴾. Allah said here,

(They did not estimate Allah with an estimation due to Him when they said: “Nothing did Allah send down to any human being (by inspiration).”) Allah answered them,

(Say : “Who then sent down the Book which Musa brought, a light and a guidance to mankind”) meaning, say, O Muhammad , to those who deny the concept that Allah sent down Books by revelation, answering them specifically,

(Who then sent down the Book which Musa brought) in reference to the Tawrah that you and all others know that Allah sent down to Musa, son of `Imran. Allah sent the Tawrah as a light and a guidance for people, so that it could shed light on the answers to various disputes, and to guide away from the darkness of doubts. Allah’s statement, .

(which you have made into (separate) papersheets, disclosing (some of it) and concealing (much).) means, you made the Tawrah into separate sheets which you copied from the original and altered, changed and distorted as you wished. You then said, “this is from Allah,” meaning it is in the revealed Book of Allah, when in fact, it is not from Allah. This is why Allah said here,

(which you have made into (separate) papersheets, disclosing (some of it) and concealing (much).) Allah said;

(And you were taught that which neither you nor your fathers knew.) meaning, Who sent down the Qur’an in which Allah taught you the news of those who were before you and the news of what will come after, that neither you nor your fathers had knowledge of. Allah’s statement,

(Say: “Allah.”) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, “Meaning, `Say, Allah sent it down.”’ Allah said,

(Then leave them to play in their vain discussions.) leave them to play in ignorance and misguidance until the true news comes to them from Allah. Then, they will know whether the good end is theirs or for the fearful servants of Allah. Allah said,

(And this is a Book,) the Qur’an,

(Blessed, which We have sent down, confirming which came before it, so that you may warn the Mother of Towns) that is, Makkah,

(and all those around it…) refering to the Arabs and the rest of the children of Adam, Arabs and non-Arabs alike. Allah said in other Ayat,

(Say: “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.”) ﴿7:158﴾, and

(“that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach.”) ﴿6:19﴾, and

(but those of the sects who reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place) ﴿11:17﴾ and,

(Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion to His servant that he may be a warner to the `Alamin (mankind and Jinn).) ﴿25:1﴾, and,

(And say to those who were given the Scripture and to those who are illiterates: “Do you submit yourselves” If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allah is All-Seer of (His) servants.) ﴿3:20﴾. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs, that the Messenger of Allah said,

(I have been given five things which were not given to any one else before me.) The Prophet mentioned among these five things,

(Every Prophet was sent only to his nation, but I have been sent to all people.) This is why Allah said,

(Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it,) meaning, those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, believe in this blessed Book, the Qur’an, which We revealed to you, O Muhammad ,

(and they are constant in guarding their Salah.) for they perform what Allah ordered them, offering the prayers perfectly and on time.