Surah Ahqaf ayat 11 Tafsir Quran 46:11

﴿وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَوْ كَانَ خَيْرًا مَّا سَبَقُونَا إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَإِذْ لَمْ يَهْتَدُوا بِهِ فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا إِفْكٌ قَدِيمٌ﴾
[ الأحقاف: 11]

46:11 And those who disbelieve say of those who believe, "If it had [truly] been good, they would not have preceded us to it." And when they are not guided by it, they will say, "This is an ancient falsehood."

And those who disbelieve say of those who believe that is they say with regards to them ‘Had it faith been anything good they would not have attained it before us’. And since they the ones now speaking will not be guided by it that is by the Qur’ān they say ‘This that is the Qur’ān is an ancient lie!’

And those who deny Allah speak of those who sincerely believed in Him, and say: If it -the Quran- were good and has a quality in a sufficient degree, we would have been the first to take it as a matter of choice; and so, since they respond to the Quran with careless disinterested spirit and disfavour, they will label it: fables of old

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.

(46:11) The unbelievers say to the believers: 'If there was any good in this Book, others would not have beaten us to its acceptance.' *15 But since they have not been guided to it, they will certainly say: 'This is an old fabrication.' *16

And those who disbelieve say of those meaning

*15) This is one of those arguments that the chiefs of the Quraish employed to beguile and mislead the common people against the Holy Prophet.
They said: If the Qur'an were really based on the truth and Muhammad ( upon whom be Allah's peace ) were inviting towards a right thing, the chiefs and the elders and the noblemen of the community would have been in the forefront to accept it.
How could it be that a few young boys and mean slaves only should accept a reasonable thing but the distinguished men of the nation, who are wise and experienced, and who have been held as reliable by others, would reject it? This was the deceptive reasoning by which they tried to make the common people believe that there was something wrong with the new message; that is why the ciders of the people were not believing it; therefore, they also should avoid it.

*16) That is, " They regard themselves as a criterion of the truth and falsehood.
They think that whatever ( guidance ) they reject must be falsehood.
But accepting them since thousands of years also were devoid of wisdom and knowledge, and the whole wisdom has now become these people's monopoly. "
 

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.

( And those who disbelieve ) Asad, Ghatafan and Hanzalah ( say of those who believe ) Juhaynah, Muzaynah and Aslam: ( If it had been (any ) good) if what Muhammad ( pbuh ) says had any good or truth in it, ( they would not have been before us in attaining it ) Juhaynah, Muzaynah and Aslam would not have been first to accept it. ( And since they will not be guided by it ) and since Asad and Ghatafan do not believe in Muhammad ( pbuh ) and the Qur’an, ( they say: This is an ancient lie ) this Qur’an is an ancient lie;

And those who disbelieve (strong and wealthy) say of those who believe (weak and poor): "Had it (Islamic Monotheism to which Muhammad SAW is inviting mankind) been a good thing, they (weak and poor) would not have preceded us thereto!" And when they have not let themselves be guided by it (this Quran), they say: "This is an ancient lie!"

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