Surah Nahl Ayat 101 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 101
And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse – and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down – they say, “You, [O Muhammad], are but an inventor [of lies].” But most of them do not know.
When We substitute one revelation for another,- and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages),- they say, “Thou art but a forger”: but most of them understand not.
Whenever We replace one verse by another verse – and Allah knows what He should reveal – they are wont to say: “You are nothing but a fabricator (who has invented the Qur’an).” The fact is that most of them are ignorant of the Truth.
And when We change a Verse [of the Quran, i.e. cancel (abrogate) its order] in place of another, and Allah knows the best of what He sends down, they (the disbelievers) say: “You (O Muhammad SAW) are but a Muftari! (forger, liar).” Nay, but most of them know not.
And when We put a revelation in place of (another) revelation, – and Allah knoweth best what He revealeth – they say: Lo! thou art but inventing. Most of them know not.
And when We substitute a verse (Literally; a sign “ayat) in the place of (another) verse-and Allah best knows what He is sending down-they say, “Surely you are only a fabricator!” No indeed, (but) most of them do not know.
When We substitute one revelation for another- and God knows best what He reveals- they say, ‘You are just making it up,’ but most of them have no knowledge.
اور جب ہم کسی آیت کی جگہ دوسری آیت بدل دیتے ہیں اور جو کچھ اللہ تعالیٰ نازل فرماتا ہے اسے وه خوب جانتا ہے تو یہ کہتے ہیں کہ تو تو بہتان باز ہے۔ بات یہ ہے کہ ان میں سے اکثر جانتے ہی نہیں
Quran 16 Verse 101 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Nahl ayat 101, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(16:101) Whenever We replace one verse by another verse – and Allah knows what He should reveal – they are wont to say: “You are nothing but a fabricator[102] (who has invented the Qur’an).” The fact is that most of them are ignorant of the Truth.
102. This may also mean: To send down one commandment to elaborate upon the other, for the commandments were sent down piecemeal in the Quran. For instance, the commandments about prohibition and fornication were sent down gradually one after the other during several years. But We hesitate to accept this interpretation because An-Nahl is a Makki Surah and to the best of our information there is no instance to show that commandments were sent down piecemeal at Makkah. Therefore, we prefer the other interpretation. The Quran has added details of one theme and explained the same with different kinds of illustrations at different places. Likewise it has related a story in different words at different places and presented its different aspects and details at other places. It has put forward one argument at one place to prove a theme and another at another place to prove the same theme. It has related one theme concisely at one place and in detail at the other. That is what the disbelievers of Makkah put forward as proof that Muhammad (peace be upon him) forged the Quran himself. They argued like this: Had the Quran been the Word of Allah, it would have related one thing in full at one place, for Allah’s knowledge is not defective that He should have to think out gradually the details of a theme and to give different versions to explain the same thing. In contrast to this, the knowledge of a human being is defective. A man has to think out gradually as has been done in the case of the Quran which is a clear proof that you have forged it yourself.
Ibn-Kathir
101. And when We change a verse in place of another – and Allah knows best what He reveals – they (the disbelievers) say: “You (O Muhammad) are but a forger.” Rather, most of them know not. 102. Say (O Muhammad); “Ruh-ul-Qudus has brought it (the Qur’an) down from your Lord with truth.” for the conviction of those who believe, and as a guide and good news for the Muslims.
Allah tells us of the weak minds of the idolators, and their lack of faith and conviction. He explains that it is impossible for them to have faith when He has decreed that they are doomed. When they saw that some rulings had been changed by being abrogated, they said to the Messenger of Allah :
(You are but a forger) meaning one who tells lies. But Allah is the Lord Who does whatever He wills, and rules as He wants.
(And when We change a verse (of the Qur’an) in place of another) Mujahid said: this means, “We remove one and put another in its place.” Qatadah said: this is like the Ayah:
(Whatever verse We change ﴿abrogate﴾ or omit ﴿the abrogated﴾…)” (2:106). Allah said, in response to them:
(Say: “Ruh-ul-Qudus has brought it…”) meaning, Jibril,
(from your Lord with truth, ) meaning, with truthfulness and justice
(for the conviction of those who believe,) so that they will believe what was revealed earlier and what was revealed later, and humble themselves towards Allah.
(and as a guide and good news for the Muslims.) meaning He has made it a guide and good news to the Muslims who believe in Allah and His Messengers.
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