Juz 17: Al-Anbiyāʾ and Al-Ḥajj
Section 4 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
4. Refuting Polytheists' Arguments Against the Prophet
The disbelievers of Makkah employed various tactics to discredit the message of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Surah Al-Anbiya addresses these objections directly, exposing their inconsistency and irrationality. Rather than maintaining a coherent critique, the polytheists would hurl various contradictory accusations, hoping that something might undermine the Prophet's credibility.
وَقَالُوا أَضْغَاثُ أَحْلَامٍ بَلِ افْتَرَاهُ بَلْ هُوَ شَاعِرٌ فَلْيَأْتِنَا بِآيَةٍ كَمَا أُرْسِلَ الْأَوَّلُونَ
“They say, "It is but a mixture of dreams. Rather, he has fabricated it. Rather, he is a poet. So, let him bring a sign to us, as the earlier ones were sent with." (Al-Anbiya 21:5)”
This verse captures the disbelievers' contradictory claims about the Quran. They would variously dismiss it as "أَضْغَاثُ أَحْلَامٍ" (confused dreams), accuse the Prophet (peace be upon him) of fabrication, or label him a poet. When these accusations failed to gain traction, they would demand physical miracles like those of previous prophets, ignoring the Quran itself as the greatest miracle.
Allah refutes these objections by pointing out that all previous messengers were also human beings:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“We did not send before you any men but those to whom We revealed (Our message). So, ask the people of the message if you do not know." (Al-Anbiya 21:7)”
This verse establishes a crucial principle: prophethood was always granted to humans, never to angels. The polytheists' objection that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was "merely human" betrayed their ignorance of religious history, which they could have verified with the People of the Book who possessed knowledge of previous prophets.
Allah further explains that the prophets were subject to human needs:
وَمَا جَعَلْنَاهُمْ جَسَدًا لَّا يَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا خَالِدِينَ
“We did not make them bodies that would not eat food, nor were they immortal." (Al-Anbiya 21:8)”
The prophets ate, drank, and eventually died like all humans. Their distinguishing quality was not superhuman abilities but divine revelation and exemplary character. The disbelievers' demand for physical miracles ignored the fact that such miracles had not convinced previous nations:
وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً وَأَنشَأْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا آخَرِينَ
“How many towns have We destroyed that were wrongdoers, and We raised up after them another people!" (Al-Anbiya 21:11)”
Allah reminds humanity that previous nations who rejected their prophets despite witnessing miracles were ultimately destroyed. Their places were then given to other communities. This serves as a warning that the demand for signs often masks an unwillingness to believe, regardless of evidence.
The disbelievers' reaction when faced with divine warning further reveals their stubbornness:
فَلَمَّا أَحَسُّوا بَأْسَنَا إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ
“So, when they sensed Our punishment, they started to run from it." (Al-Anbiya 21:12)”
Only when punishment becomes imminent do the disbelievers attempt to flee, but by then it is too late. The verse illustrates how denial gives way to panic when consequences cannot be avoided, leading to belated admission of wrongdoing:
قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ
“They said, "Woe to us! We were wrongdoers”