Surah Al-Muddaththir — Verse 25

Word Meanings:

• Qawl al-Bashar — The speech or words of a human being, as opposed to the speech of Allah.

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse quotes the arrogant and stubborn disbeliever al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah, who, after deep reflection and deliberation, sought to find any flaw in the Qur’an but could not. Frustrated and enraged, he resorted to false accusations, claiming that the Qur’an was nothing but the words of a human being — not the revelation of Allah. In his desperation, he even pointed to two non-Arab slaves in Makkah, Yasār and Jabar, who used to speak with the Prophet (peace be upon him), and alleged that the Prophet had merely learned this "speech" from them.

This statement was a lie born of arrogance and denial. The Qur’an, with its unmatched eloquence, profound wisdom, and divine truths, is beyond the capacity of any human to produce. Even the most skilled poets and orators of Arabia — masters of the Arabic language — were unable to compose anything like it, despite being challenged to do so. The claim that a man could learn such a miraculous Book from simple slaves is utterly baseless and self-evidently false.

A Da’wah Reflection:

How amazing is the human heart when it is sealed with pride! Al-Walid knew the truth in his heart — he even admitted that the Qur’an had a sweetness and beauty unlike anything else — yet his arrogance and fear of losing his status among his people drove him to reject it. This is a timeless lesson for us all: the greatest barrier to guidance is not ignorance, but pride. When a person humbles themselves before the truth, Allah opens their heart to light. But when they turn away in arrogance, they only harm themselves.

The Qur’an is not the words of a human — it is the living speech of Allah, preserved for all of humanity as a guide, a mercy, and a miracle that will remain until the end of time. Every letter of it carries light, and every verse invites us to a life of peace, justice, and closeness to our Creator. Let us not be like those who rejected it out of stubbornness, but rather let us be among those who listen to it with an open heart and respond with faith and action. For indeed, in the Qur’an lies the ultimate success in this life and the next.