Surah Ahqaf ayat 10 Tafsir Quran 46:10

﴿قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُم بِهِ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثْلِهِ فَآمَنَ وَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾
[ الأحقاف: 10]

46:10 Say, "Have you considered: if the Qur'an was from Allah, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant...?" Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Say ‘Have you considered? say inform me what will be your predicament if it the Qur’ān is from God and you disbelieve in it wa-kafartum bihi the sentence is a circumstantial qualifier and a witness from the Children of Israel has already testified this was ‘Abd Allāh b. Salām to the like of it that is to say to it the Qur’ān that it is from God and he the witness has believed in it while you act with arrogance …’ you are disdainful of faith the response to the conditional ‘if …’ is given by implication in what has been supplemented to it in other words ‘Would you not then be considered wrongdoers?’; this understanding of the response is indicated by what follows. Truly God does not guide wrongdoing folk’.

Say to them What if this Book -the Quran- is a Divine disclosure of knowledge by Allah to man, and you refuse to acknowledge it when all the preceding Books, foretold things to come crowned by the Quran as has been acknowledged by one or more of Bani-Israel (Children of Israel) who attested that it conforms, like the Book of Mussa (Moses), with truth and agrees with reality? Yet you deny it and you turn your heads in contempt and you object to it with inordinate self-esteem. But never will Allah impress piety on the hearts of the perverse who are wrongful of actions

The Qur'an is Allah's True Speech and the Position of the Disbelievers and the Muslims towards it Allah says, قُلْ ( Say ) meaning, `O Muhammad to these idolators who disbelieve in the Qur'an.' أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ ( Tell me! If it was ) meaning, this Qur'an. مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُمْ بِهِ ( from Allah, and you disbelieved in it ) meaning, `what do you think that Allah will do to you if this Book that I have come to you with is actually revealed to me from Him in order that I convey it to you, and yet you disbelieve in it and deny it وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّن بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ عَلَى مِثْلِهِ ( (at the same time ), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar) meaning, `the previous Scriptures that were revealed to the Prophets before me all testify to its truthfulness and authenticity.
They have prophecied, well in advance, about things similar to that which this Qur'an informs of.' Concerning Allah's statement, فَـَامَنَ ( and believed ) `this person who testified to its truthfulness from the Children of Israel, due to his realization that it was the truth.' وَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ ( while you rejected (the truth )!) `whereas you have arrogantly refused to follow it.' Masruq said: "That witness believed in his Prophet and Book, while you disbelieved in your Prophet and Book." إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الظَّـلِمِينَ ( Verily, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. ) The witness here refers to any witness in general.
It includes `Abdullah bin Salam and other from them as well.
For indeed, this Ayah was revealed in Makkah before `Abdullah bin Salam had accepted Islam.
This is similar to the statement of Allah, وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَآ إنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ ( And when it is recited to them, they say: "We believe in it.
Verily, it is the truth from our Lord.
Indeed, even before it we have been Muslims." ) ( 28:53 ) It is also similar to Allah's saying, قُلْ ءَامِنُواْ بِهِ أَوْ لاَ تُؤْمِنُواْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِ إِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ يَخِرُّونَ لِلاٌّذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا - وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَآ إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولاً ( Verily! Those who were given knowledge before it -- when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration, and they say: "Exalted is our Lord! Truly, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled." ) ( 17:107-108 ) It has been narrated from Sa`d, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, "I have not heard Allah's Messenger say about anyone walking on the surface of the earth that he is of the people of Jannah -- except for `Abdullah bin Salam.
Concerning him the following Ayah was revealed, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّن بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ عَلَى مِثْلِهِ ( (at the same time ), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar)" This has been recorded in the Two Sahihs and An-Nasa'i.
Similarly, Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, `Ikrimah, Yusuf bin `Abdullah bin Salam, Hilal bin Yasaf, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri, Malik bin Anas and Ibn Zayd all said that this refers to `Abdullah bin Salam.
Allah then says, وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوْ كَانَ خَيْراً مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيْهِ ( And those who disbelieve say of those who believe: "Had it been good, they (the weak and poor ) would not have preceded us to it!") which means that those who disbelieve say of those who believe in the Qur'an: "Had it ( the Qur'an ) been any good, they ( the weak and poor ) would not have preceded us to it!" By that, they meant Bilal, `Ammar, Suhayb, Khabbab, may Allah be pleased with them, and others like them of the weak, the male servants, and female servants.
The pagans said this only because they thought that they held a high status with Allah, and that He took special care of them.
By that, they made a great and obvious error, as Allah says: وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـؤُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَآ ( Thus have We tried some of them with others, that they might say: "Is it these whom Allah has favored from among us" ) ( 6:53 ) meaning, they wonder how could those weaklings be the ones who were guided from among them.
Thus, Allah says, لَوْ كَانَ خَيْراً مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيْهِ ( Had it been good, they (the weak and poor ) would not have preceded us to it!) Contrary to this is the position of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah: They say about any act or saying that has not been reported from the Companions: "It is an innovation.
If there was any good in it, they would have preceded us in doing it, because they have not left off any of the good characteristics except that they hurried to perform them." Allah continues, وَإِذْ لَمْ يَهْتَدُواْ بِهِ ( And when they have not been guided by it, ) meaning, the Qur'an. فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَـذَآ إِفْكٌ قَدِيمٌ ( they say: "This is an ancient falsehood!" ) meaning, an old lie.
They mean by this that the Qur'an has been quoted and taken from the ancient people, thereby belittling the Qur'an and its followers.
This is clear arrogance, as Allah's Messenger said:
«بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاس»
( (Arrogance is ) rejecting the truth and belittling the people.) Allah then says, وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَى ( And before this was the Scripture of Musa ) and it was the Tawrah. إِمَاماً وَرَحْمَةً وَهَـذَا كِتَـبٌ ( as a guide and mercy.
And this is a Book ) meaning, the Qur'an. مُّصَدِّقُ ( confirming ) meaning, that which came before it of the previous Books. لِّسَاناً عَرَبِيّاً ( in the Arabic tongue, ) means that it is eloquent and clear. لِّيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ ( to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings for the doers of good. ) meaning, it contains a warning to the dis- believers and glad tidings for the belie- vers.
Allah then says: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَـمُواْ ( Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is (only ) Allah," and thereafter stand firm,) The explanation of this has been dis- cussed earlier in Surat As-Sajdah.
See 41:30 Allah then says, فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ( on them shall be no fear, ) meaning, con- cening their future. وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( nor shall they grieve. ) meaning, over what they have left behind.
Allah continues, أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَآءً بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ( Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever ) -- a reward for what they used to do.) meaning, the deeds are a cause for their attaining the mercy and their being engulfed by it -- and Allah knows best.

(46:10) Tell them, (O Prophet): 'Did you consider (what would be your end)  *13if this Qur'an were indeed from Allah and yet you rejected it? And this even though a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to the like of it. But he believed, while you waxed arrogant. *14 Verily Allah does not guide such wrong-doers to the Right Way.

Say, "Have you considered: if the Qur'an meaning

*13) This same theme has been expressed in another way in Surah Ha-Mim As-Sajdah: 62 above.
For explanation, see E.N.
69 of the said Surah.

*14) A large number of the commentators have taken this " witness " to imply Hadrat 'Abdullah bin Salam, who was a famous Jewish scholar of Madinah, and who believed in the Holy Prophet after the migration.
As this thing happened in Madinah, these commentators say that this verse was revealed at Madinah.
This commentary is based on a statement of Hadrat Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas according to which this verse was sent down in respect of Hadrat `Abdullah bin Salam ( Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa'i Ibn Jarir ); and on the same basis have several major commentators like Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Dahhak, Ibn Sirin, Hasan Basri, Ibn Zaid and `Auf bin Malik al-Ashja`i accepted this commentary.
But, on the other hand, 'Ikrimah and Sha`bi and Masruq say that this verse cannot be about `Abdullah bin Salam ( may Allah be pleased with him ) for this entire Surah was sent down at Makkah.
Ibn Jarir Tabari also has preferred this view.
He says: The whole previous discourse is an address directed to the pagans of Makkah and the following discourse also is directed to them.
In this context it is not conceivable that a verse revealed at Madinah was inserted here.
The later commentators who have accepted this second version, do not reject the tradition of Hadrat Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, but have opined that as this verse also applies to Hadrat 'Abdullah bin Salam's affirmation of the faith, Hadrat Sa`d expressed the opinion, in the tradition of the ancients, that it was sent down with regard to him.
This does not, however, mean that when he believed, it was revealed then about him only, but that this verse precisely applied to him and his acceptance of Islam.

Apparently, this second view seems to be more correct and reasonable.
Now.
the question that remains to be answered is: Who is implied by this witness?" Some of the commentators who have accepted the second view say that it implies the Prophet Moses ( peace be upon him ), but the following sentence: 'He believed white you showed arrogance ", bears no relevance to this explanation.
What seems to be nearer the truth is that which the commentator Nisaburi and Ibn Kathir have stated.
They say: Here, by " a witness " is not meant any particular person but a common Israelite..
The meaning is this; " The teachings that the Qur'an is presenting before you are not new so that you could deny them by offering the excuse that they were novel teachings which had never been presented before man in the past.
Before this these very teachings have been similarly revealed and exist with the Israclites in the form of the Torah and other scriptures, and a common Israelite has already believed in them, and also admitted that Allah's Revelation is a means of the coming down of these teachings.
Therefore, you cannot make the claim that Revelation and these teachings are incomprehensible.
The only thing that hinders you from believing is your arrogance and baseless conceit.
"
 

The Qur'an is Allah's True Speech and the Position of the Disbelievers and the Muslims towards it Allah says, قُلْ ( Say ) meaning, `O Muhammad to these idolators who disbelieve in the Qur'an.' أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ ( Tell me! If it was ) meaning, this Qur'an. مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُمْ بِهِ ( from Allah, and you disbelieved in it ) meaning, `what do you think that Allah will do to you if this Book that I have come to you with is actually revealed to me from Him in order that I convey it to you, and yet you disbelieve in it and deny it وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّن بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ عَلَى مِثْلِهِ ( (at the same time ), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar) meaning, `the previous Scriptures that were revealed to the Prophets before me all testify to its truthfulness and authenticity.
They have prophecied, well in advance, about things similar to that which this Qur'an informs of.' Concerning Allah's statement, فَـَامَنَ ( and believed ) `this person who testified to its truthfulness from the Children of Israel, due to his realization that it was the truth.' وَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ ( while you rejected (the truth )!) `whereas you have arrogantly refused to follow it.' Masruq said: "That witness believed in his Prophet and Book, while you disbelieved in your Prophet and Book." إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الظَّـلِمِينَ ( Verily, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. ) The witness here refers to any witness in general.
It includes `Abdullah bin Salam and other from them as well.
For indeed, this Ayah was revealed in Makkah before `Abdullah bin Salam had accepted Islam.
This is similar to the statement of Allah, وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَآ إنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ ( And when it is recited to them, they say: "We believe in it.
Verily, it is the truth from our Lord.
Indeed, even before it we have been Muslims." ) ( 28:53 ) It is also similar to Allah's saying, قُلْ ءَامِنُواْ بِهِ أَوْ لاَ تُؤْمِنُواْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِ إِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ يَخِرُّونَ لِلاٌّذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا - وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَآ إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولاً ( Verily! Those who were given knowledge before it -- when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration, and they say: "Exalted is our Lord! Truly, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled." ) ( 17:107-108 ) It has been narrated from Sa`d, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, "I have not heard Allah's Messenger say about anyone walking on the surface of the earth that he is of the people of Jannah -- except for `Abdullah bin Salam.
Concerning him the following Ayah was revealed, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّن بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ عَلَى مِثْلِهِ ( (at the same time ), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar)" This has been recorded in the Two Sahihs and An-Nasa'i.
Similarly, Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, `Ikrimah, Yusuf bin `Abdullah bin Salam, Hilal bin Yasaf, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri, Malik bin Anas and Ibn Zayd all said that this refers to `Abdullah bin Salam.
Allah then says, وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوْ كَانَ خَيْراً مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيْهِ ( And those who disbelieve say of those who believe: "Had it been good, they (the weak and poor ) would not have preceded us to it!") which means that those who disbelieve say of those who believe in the Qur'an: "Had it ( the Qur'an ) been any good, they ( the weak and poor ) would not have preceded us to it!" By that, they meant Bilal, `Ammar, Suhayb, Khabbab, may Allah be pleased with them, and others like them of the weak, the male servants, and female servants.
The pagans said this only because they thought that they held a high status with Allah, and that He took special care of them.
By that, they made a great and obvious error, as Allah says: وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـؤُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَآ ( Thus have We tried some of them with others, that they might say: "Is it these whom Allah has favored from among us" ) ( 6:53 ) meaning, they wonder how could those weaklings be the ones who were guided from among them.
Thus, Allah says, لَوْ كَانَ خَيْراً مَّا سَبَقُونَآ إِلَيْهِ ( Had it been good, they (the weak and poor ) would not have preceded us to it!) Contrary to this is the position of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah: They say about any act or saying that has not been reported from the Companions: "It is an innovation.
If there was any good in it, they would have preceded us in doing it, because they have not left off any of the good characteristics except that they hurried to perform them." Allah continues, وَإِذْ لَمْ يَهْتَدُواْ بِهِ ( And when they have not been guided by it, ) meaning, the Qur'an. فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَـذَآ إِفْكٌ قَدِيمٌ ( they say: "This is an ancient falsehood!" ) meaning, an old lie.
They mean by this that the Qur'an has been quoted and taken from the ancient people, thereby belittling the Qur'an and its followers.
This is clear arrogance, as Allah's Messenger said: «بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاس» ( (Arrogance is ) rejecting the truth and belittling the people.) Allah then says, وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَى ( And before this was the Scripture of Musa ) and it was the Tawrah. إِمَاماً وَرَحْمَةً وَهَـذَا كِتَـبٌ ( as a guide and mercy.
And this is a Book ) meaning, the Qur'an. مُّصَدِّقُ ( confirming ) meaning, that which came before it of the previous Books. لِّسَاناً عَرَبِيّاً ( in the Arabic tongue, ) means that it is eloquent and clear. لِّيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ ( to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings for the doers of good. ) meaning, it contains a warning to the dis- believers and glad tidings for the belie- vers.
Allah then says: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَـمُواْ ( Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is (only ) Allah," and thereafter stand firm,) The explanation of this has been dis- cussed earlier in Surat As-Sajdah.
See 41:30 Allah then says, فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ( on them shall be no fear, ) meaning, con- cening their future. وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( nor shall they grieve. ) meaning, over what they have left behind.
Allah continues, أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَآءً بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ( Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever ) -- a reward for what they used to do.) meaning, the deeds are a cause for their attaining the mercy and their being engulfed by it -- and Allah knows best.

Say, O Muhammad, to the Jews: ( Bethink you ) O Jews: ( If it is from Allah ) if this Qur’an is from Allah ( and ye disbelieve therein ) and you disbelieve in the Qur’an, ( and a witness of the Children of Israel ) Benjamin ( hath already testified to the like thereof ) to the same testimony of ’Abdullah Ibn Salam and his followers regarding Muhammad ( pbuh ) and the Qur’an ( and hath believed ) ’Abdullah Ibn Salam and his followers believed in Muhammad ( pbuh ) and the Qur’an, ( and ye ) O group of Jews ( are too proud ) to believe in Muhammad ( pbuh ) and the Qur’an ( (what plight is yours )? Lo! Allah, guides not) to his religion ( wrong-doing folk ) a folk that does not deserve it.

Say: "Tell me! If this (Quran) is from Allah, and you deny it, and a witness from among the Children of Israel ('Abdullah bin Salam) testifies that this Quran is from Allah [like the Taurat (Torah)], so he believed (embraced Islam) while you are too proud (to believe)." Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, disbelievers and wrong-doing).

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