Surah Al-An'am — Verse 91

Word Meanings:

• قَدَرُوا (Qadarū): To appraise, measure, or give something its due worth and magnitude.
• حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ (Ḥaqqa Qadrih): The true and complete measure of His greatness — to revere Him as He deserves to be revered.
• قَرَاطِيسَ (Qarāṭīs): Scrolls, parchments, or sheets of paper on which writing is inscribed.
• تُبْدُونَهَا (Tubdūnahā): You reveal and make public what suits your interests.
• وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا (Wa tukhfūna kathīrā): You conceal much of it — especially what contradicts your desires, such as the descriptions of the final Prophet.
• خَوْضِهِمْ (Khawḍihim): Their vain and false discourse — plunging into falsehood and idle talk.

Tafsir (Explanation):

These people failed to truly honor Allah with the honor He deserves. How could they claim, with such arrogance, that Allah has never sent down any revelation to any human being? This is a staggering denial of His wisdom, mercy, and justice — for how could the Creator leave His creation without guidance? How could He fashion the heavens and the earth, and then abandon humanity to wander in darkness without a lamp?

The Qur'an confronts this false claim with a piercing question: "Who then sent down the Book that Moses brought as a light and guidance for mankind?" The Torah itself was a divine revelation — a radiant beacon that illuminated the path of righteousness for the Children of Israel. Yet, the very people who claimed to believe in it were guilty of a terrible betrayal: they tore it into scattered parchments, showing only what aligned with their worldly interests, and hiding vast portions of it — including the glad tidings of a final Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the clear rulings they found inconvenient.

Then the address turns to the Arabs who received the Qur'an: "And you have been taught what neither you nor your fathers ever knew." Through this magnificent Qur'an, Allah taught them the stories of past nations, the realities of the unseen, the secrets of creation, and the path to eternal success — knowledge that had never reached them before. This was a mercy beyond measure, a gift that transformed an illiterate people into the teachers of humanity.

So, O Messenger, tell them plainly: "Allah — it is He who sent it down." Then leave them to their idle chatter and their games. They will soon realize the truth when the consequences of their denial catch up with them.

A Da'wah Reflection:

This verse carries a profound lesson for every soul. To truly honor Allah is to recognize that He never leaves His servants without guidance. From Adam to Noah, from Moses to Jesus, and finally to Muhammad (peace be upon them all) — the chain of revelation is unbroken, culminating in the final and complete scripture, the Qur'an.

The tragedy of the People of the Book was not that they lacked the truth, but that they concealed it for worldly gain. Let us not fall into the same trap — let us embrace the Qur'an, recite it, understand it, and live by it. For in it is the light that dispels every darkness, the healing for every heart, and the guidance that leads to eternal bliss.

And to those who doubt: look at the Qur'an itself. Its eloquence, its scientific accuracy, its historical precision, and its transformative power are living proofs that it is indeed the word of the Creator. Open your heart to it, and you will find what no human book can ever offer — the peace of certainty and the joy of divine connection.