Surah Sad — Verse 7

Word Meanings:

• Al-Millah al-Akhirah (الْمِلَّةِ الْآخِرَةِ): The later/previous religion or creed — referring to the religion of their forefathers from Quraysh, and some commentators also include the Christian faith as understood by them.
• Ikh’tilāq (اخْتِلَاقٌ): Fabrication, false invention, or a lie concocted by someone.

Tafsir (Explanation):

In this verse, Allah informs us of the arrogant response of the disbelieving leaders of Quraysh when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called them to the pure monotheism of Islam — the worship of Allah alone, and the belief in the Resurrection and the Hereafter. These chiefs, in their pride and stubbornness, incited their people to remain steadfast upon their ancestral polytheism and to endure in worshipping multiple deities. They said: "We have never heard of this call to pure monotheism in the religion of our forefathers from Quraysh, nor in the faith of Jesus (peace be upon him) as we know it. This is nothing but a fabrication — a lie that Muhammad has invented from his own mind to seek leadership and dominance over us."

Their words were not based on genuine inquiry or sincere search for truth, but rather on blind following of tradition and a desperate defense of their social status and worldly interests. They dismissed the greatest truth — the oneness of Allah and the reality of the afterlife — as mere fiction, without even examining its evidence or contemplating its profound wisdom.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

Dear reader, reflect deeply on this scene. These leaders did not say, "We have examined this message and found it false." Rather, they rejected it purely because they had not heard it before from their ancestors. This is the tragedy of blind imitation — closing one's heart to truth simply because it is new or unfamiliar. The Qur'an challenges every seeker of truth to use their intellect, to ponder the creation of the heavens and the earth, and to recognize that the message of Islam is not a human invention but a divine revelation that resonates with the natural disposition (fitrah) placed within every soul. The call to worship the One Creator, who has no partners, is the very essence of all the prophets' messages — from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally Muhammad (peace be upon them all). So do not let the rejection of others, past or present, distance you from the truth. Open your heart, and you will find that Islam is not a fabrication but the very light that illuminates the path to eternal success.