Surah Al-A’raf Ayat 203 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 203
And when you, [O Muhammad], do not bring them a sign, they say, “Why have you not contrived it?” Say, “I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This [Qur’an] is enlightenment from your Lord and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.”
If thou bring them not a revelation, they say: “Why hast thou not got it together?” Say: “I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord: this is (nothing but) lights from your Lord, and Guidance, and mercy, for any who have faith.”
[O Prophet!] When you do not produce before them any miracle, they say: ‘Why do you not choose for yourself a miracle?’ Say to them: ‘I follow only what is revealed to me by my Lord. This is nothing but a means of insight into the truth, and guidance and mercy from your Lord to the people who believe.
And if you do not bring them a miracle [according to their (i.e. Quraish-pagans’) proposal], they say: “Why have you not brought it?” Say: “I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This (the Quran) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.”
And when thou bringest not a verse for them they say: Why hast thou not chosen it? Say: I follow only that which is inspired in me from my Lord. This (Qur’an) is insight from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people that believe.
And when you do not come up to them with a sign, they say, “Why have you not selected it?” Say, “Surely I closely follow only what has been revealed to me from my Lord; these one evident demonstrations (i.e., demonstrations for beholders) from your Lord, and a guidance, and a mercy for a people who believe.”.
When you do not bring them a fresh revelation, they say, ‘But can you not just ask for one?’ Say, ‘I merely repeat what is revealed to me from my Lord: this revelation brings you insights from your Lord, and guidance and mercy for those who believe,
اور جب آپ کوئی معجزه ان کے سامنے ﻇاہر نہیں کرتے تو وه لوگ کہتے ہیں کہ آپ یہ معجزه کیوں نہ ﻻئے؟ آپ فرما دیجئے! کہ میں اس کا اتباع کرتا ہوں جو مجھ پر میرے رب کی طرف سے حکم بھیجا گیا ہے یہ گویا بہت سی دلیلیں ہیں تمہارے رب کی طرف سے اور ہدایت اور رحمت ہے ان لوگوں کے لئے جو ایمان رکھتے ہیں
Quran 7 Verse 203 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-A’raf ayat 203, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(7:203) [O Prophet!] When you do not produce before them any miracle, they say: ‘Why do you not choose for yourself a miracle?’[151] Say to them: I follow only what is revealed to me by my Lord. This is nothing but a means of insight into the truth, and guidance and mercy from your Lord to the people who believe.[152]
151. This question is a taunt rather than a simple query. What the utterance implies is that if the claim to prophethood is genuine, it should have been supported by some miracle. The next verse contains a fitting rejoinder to the taunt.
152. The Prophet (peace be on him) is being made to tell his opponents in clear terms that he has no power to get whatever he wants. Being God’s Messenger, he is required to follow the directives of the One Who has sent him and has granted him the Qur’an which has the light of guidance. The major characteristic of this Book is that those who seek guidance from it do indeed find the right way. The moral excellence visible in the lives of those people who accept the Qur’an is testimony to the fact that they have been blessed with God’s mercy.
Ibn-Kathir
203. And if you do not bring them a miracle, they say: “Why have you not brought it” Say: “I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This (the Qur’an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.”
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on Allah’s statement,
(they say, “Why have you not brought it”) “They say, `Why have you not received a miracle”’, or, “Why have you not initiated or made it” Ibn Jarir reported that, `Abdullah bin Kathir said that Mujahid said about Allah’s statement,
(And if you do not bring them a miracle, they say: “Why have you not brought it”) “They say, `Produce a miracle of your own.”’ Qatadah, As-Suddi, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and Ibn Jarir agreed with this. Allah said next,
(And if you do not bring them an Ayah) a miracle or a sign. Similarly, Allah said,
(If We will, We could send down to them from the heaven a sign, to which they would bend their necks in humility.) ﴿26:4﴾ The pagans asked the Prophet, why did you not strive hard to bring us an Ayah (miracle) from Allah so that we witness it and believe in it. Allah said to him,
(Say: “I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord.”) I do not ask such things of my Lord. I only follow what He reveals and commands me. Therefore, if Allah sends a miracle, I will accept it. Otherwise, I will not ask for it unless He allows me. Certainly, Allah is Most Wise, the All-Knower. Allah next directs the servants to the fact that this Qur’an is the most powerful miracle, clearest evidence and most true proof and explanation, saying,
(This (the Qur’an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.)
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