Surah Al-Mu'minun — Verse 83

Key Words and Phrases:

• "Asātīr al-awwalīn" (أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ): This means "legends of the ancients" or "myths of the former peoples." The singular is *ustūrah* (أُسطورة), meaning a fable, tale, or fabricated story that has no basis in reality.
• "Wuʿidnā" (وُعِدْنَا): "We were promised" — referring to the promise of resurrection and the Day of Judgment.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this verse, Allah Almighty quotes the response of the disbelievers of Quraysh to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he called them to believe in the resurrection and the Hereafter. They said, in denial and mockery: "We have been promised this — that we will be raised from our graves and held accountable — and our forefathers were promised the same thing long before us. Yet we have never seen it come to pass. This is nothing but the fables of the ancients — tales and myths that have been handed down through generations, with no truth behind them."

Their argument was not based on evidence or rational inquiry, but on stubbornness and blind rejection. They claimed that because their ancestors had heard similar calls from earlier prophets and had not witnessed the resurrection in their lifetimes, the entire message must be false. This was a weak and illogical stance, for the promise of resurrection is not a worldly event that occurs within a single generation; rather, it is a divine appointment that will take place at the time Allah has decreed, known only to Him.

The disbelievers dismissed the Qur'an and the prophetic message as mere "legends of the ancients" — stories of past nations that had no bearing on their present lives. Yet, in doing so, they ignored the clear signs of Allah's power in creation, the evidence of His wisdom, and the undeniable truth that the One who created them from nothing is fully capable of bringing them back to life after death.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

Dear reader, reflect on this verse and consider how the disbelievers of old relied on the same excuses that people still use today. They rejected the truth not because it was unclear, but because they did not want to change their ways or accept accountability. How different is the attitude of the believer, who looks at the universe and sees the hand of its Creator, who hears the call of truth and responds with an open heart!

The promise of resurrection is not a myth — it is a certainty that will be fulfilled. Every soul shall taste death, and every soul shall be returned to its Lord for judgment. Do not let the passing of time or the doubts of others deceive you. The Qur'an is not a legend; it is the living word of Allah, and its message is as relevant today as it was when it was first revealed.

Embrace this truth before the Day arrives when no excuse will be accepted, and no return to this world will be possible. Let your faith be built on certainty, not on the fleeting opinions of those who came before. For Allah's promise is true, and His word is the ultimate reality.