The Story, Stories, The Narrative — Verse 49

The stubborn Response of the Disbelievers Allah tells us that if people were to be punished before proof was established against them, they would use the excuse that no Messenger came to them, but when the truth did come to them through Muhammad ﷺ, in their stubbornness, disbelief, ignorance and misguided thinking, they said: لَوْلا أُوتِىَ مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَى (Why is he not given the like of what was given to Musa) Meaning -- and Allah knows best -- many signs like the staff, the hand, the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, the blood, the destruction of crops and fruits -- which made things difficult for the enemies of Allah -- and the parting of the sea, the clouds (following the Children of Israel in the wilderness and) shading them, the manna and quails, and other clear signs and definitive proof, miracles which Allah wrought at the hands of Musa as evidence and proof against Fir`awn and his chiefs and the Children of Israel. But all of this had no effect on Fir`awn and his chiefs; on the contrary, they denied Musa and his brother Harun, as Allah tells us: أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَلْفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءابَاءَنَا وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا الْكِبْرِيَآءُ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ (Have you come to us to turn us away from what we found our fathers following, and that you two may have greatness in the land We are not going to believe you two!) (10:78) فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَكَانُواْ مِنَ الْمُهْلَكِينَ (So they denied them both and became of those who were destroyed.) (23:48) The Rebellious do not believe in Miracles Allah says here: أَوَلَمْ يَكْفُرُواْ بِمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَى مِن قَبْلُ (Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Musa of old) Did not mankind disbelieve in those mighty signs which were given to Musa قَالُواْ سِحْرَانِ تَظَـهَرَا (They say: "Two kinds of magic, each helping the other!") cooperating or working one with the other. وَقَالُواْ إِنَّا بِكُلٍّ كَـفِرُونَ (And they say: "Verily, in both we are disbelievers.") meaning, `we disbelieve in each of them.' Because of the close relationship between Musa and Harun, mention of one includes the other. False Accusation that Musa and Harun (peace be upon them both) practiced Magic Mujahid bin Jabr said, "The Jews told Quraysh to say this to Muhammad , then Allah said: `Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Musa of old They say: Two kinds of magic, each helping the other!' This refers to Musa and Harun, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both, تَظَـهَرَا (each helping the other) i.e., working together and supporting one another." This was also the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr and Abu Razin that the phrase "two kinds of magic" referred to Musa and Harun. This is a good suggestion. And Allah knows best. The Response to this False Accusation سِحْرَانِ تَظَـهَرَا (Two kinds of magic, each helping the other!) `Ali bin Abi Talhah and Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this refers to the Tawrah and the Qur'an, because Allah says next: قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِكِتَـبٍ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَآ أَتَّبِعْهُ (Say: "Then bring a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than these two that I may follow it.") Allah often mentions the Tawrah and the Qur'an together, as in the Ayat: قُلْ مَنْ أَنزَلَ الْكِتَـبَ الَّذِى جَآءَ بِهِ مُوسَى نُوراً وَهُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ (Say: "Who then sent down the Book which Musa brought, a light and a guidance to mankind...) until: وَهَـذَا كِتَـبٌ أَنزَلْنَـهُ مُبَارَكٌ (And this is a blessed Book which We have sent down.") (6:91-92) And at the end of the same Surah, Allah says: ثُمَّ ءاتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَـبَ تَمَامًا عَلَى الَّذِى أَحْسَنَ (Then, We gave Musa the Book, to complete (Our favor) upon those who would do right) (6: 154). وَهَـذَا كِتَـبٌ أَنزَلْنَـهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (And this is a blessed Book which We have sent down, so follow it and have Taqwa of Allah, that you may receive mercy) (6:155). And the Jinn said: إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَـباً أُنزِلَ مِن بَعْدِ مُوسَى مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ (Verily, we have heard a Book sent down after Musa, confirming what came before it) (46:30). Waraqah bin Nawfal said, "This is An-Namus, who came down to Musa." And those who are possessed of insight know instinctively that among the many Books which He has sent down to His Prophets, there is no Book more perfect, more eloquent or more noble than the Book which He revealed to Muhammad ﷺ, which is the Qur'an. Next to it in status and greatness is the Book which Allah revealed to Musa bin `Imran, which is the Book concerning which Allah says: إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالاٌّحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُواْ مِن كِتَـبِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُواْ عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَآءَ (Verily, We did send down the Tawrah, therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah's will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests, for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's Book, and they were witnesses thereto) (5:44). The Injil was revealed as a continuation and complement of the Tawrah and to permit some of the things that had been forbidden to the Children of Israel. Allah says: قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِكِتَـبٍ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَآ أَتَّبِعْهُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ (Then bring a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than these two, that I may follow it, if you are truthful.) meaning, `in your efforts to refute the truth with false arguments.' فَإِن لَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُواْ لَكَ (But if they answer you not,) means, `if they do not respond to what you tell them, and do not follow the truth,' فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ (then know that they only follow their own lusts.) means, with no basis or evidence. p وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِّنَ اللَّهِ (And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah) means, with no guidance taken from the Book of Allah. إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الظَّـلِمِينَ (Verily, Allah guides not the people who are wrongdoers.) وَلَقَدْ وَصَّلْنَا لَهُمُ الْقَوْلَ (And indeed now We have conveyed the Word) Mujahid said: "We have explained the Word to them." As-Suddi said something similar. Qatadah said: "Allah is saying, `He has told them what He did in the past and what He will do in the future."' لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ (in order that they may remember.) Mujahid and others said: وَصَّلْنَا لَهُمُ (We have conveyed the Word) means, to Quraysh.

Say to them ‘Then bring some Scripture from God that is better in guidance than these two Scriptures that I may follow it if you are truthful’ in what you say.

قل -أيها الرسول- لهؤلاء: فأتوا بكتاب من عند الله هو أقوم من التوراة والقرآن أتبعه، إن كنتم صادقين في زعمكم.

أي فيما تدافعون به الحق وتعارضون به من الباطل.

ثم أمر الله - تعالى - رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يتحداهم ، وأن يفحمهم بما يخرس ألسنتهم فقال : ( قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِكِتَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِ الله هُوَ أهدى مِنْهُمَآ أَتَّبِعْهُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ) .أى : قل - أيها الرسول الكريم - لهؤلاء الجاحدين : لقد أنزل الله - تعالى - على موسى التوراة . وأنزل القرآن على ، وأنا مؤمن بهما كل الإيمان ، فإن كنتم أنتم مصرون على كفركم ( فَأْتُواْ بِكِتَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِ الله هُوَ أهدى مِنْهُمَآ ) أى هو أوضح منهما وأبين فى الإرشاد إلى الطريق المستقيم .وقوله ( أَتَّبِعْهُ ) مجزوم فى جواب الأمر المحذوف ، أى : إن تأتوا به أتبعه . . ( إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ) فى زعمكم أن القرآن والتوراة نوع من السحر .فالآية الكريمة تتهكم بهم ، وتسخر منهم ، بأسلوب بديع معجز ، لأنه من المعروف لكل عاقل أنهم ليسوا فى استطاعتهم - ولا فى استطاعة غيرهم - أن يأتوا بكتاب ، أهدى من الكتابين اللذين أنزلهما - سبحانه - على نبيين كريمين من أنبيائه ، هما موسى ومحمد - عليهما الصلاة والسلام - .ولذا قال صاحب الكشاف ما ملخصه : وهذا الشرط يأتى به المدل بالأمر المتحقق لصحته ، لأن امتناع الإتيان بكتاب أهدى من الكتابين . أمر معلوم متحقق . لا مجال فيه للشك ، ويجوز أن يقصد بحرف الشك التهكم بهم .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَا أَتَّبِعْهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (49)يقول تعالى ذكره لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: قل يا محمد للقائلين للتوراة والإنجيل: هما سحران تظاهرا: ائتوا بكتاب من عند الله, هو أهدى منهما لطريق الحقّ, ولسبيل الرشاد ( أَتَّبِعْهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ) في زعمكم أن هذين الكتابين سحران, وأن الحقّ في غيرهما.وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني محمد بن سعد, قال: ثني أبي, قال: ثني عمي, قال: ثني أبي, عن أبيه, عن ابن عباس, قال: فقال الله تعالى ( قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَا ) ... الآية.حدثني يونس, قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب, قال: قال ابن زيد, فقال الله ( قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَا ) من هذين الكتابين; الذي بعث به موسى, والذي بعث به محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم .

( قل ) يا محمد ، ( فأتوا بكتاب من عند الله هو أهدى منهما ) يعني : من التوراة والقرآن ، ( أتبعه إن كنتم صادقين )

قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَا أَتَّبِعْهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (49) أي أجب كلامهم المحكي من قولهم { ساحران } [ القصص : 48 ] وقولهم { إنا بكل كافرون } [ القصص : 48 ] .ووصف ( كتاب ] ب { من عند الله } إدماج لمدح القرآن والتوراة بأنهما كتابان من عند الله . والمراد بالتوراة ما تشتمل عليه الأسفار الأربعة المنسوبة إلى موسى من كلام الله إلى موسى أو من إسناد موسى أمراً إلى الله لا كل ما اشتملت عليه تلك الأسفار فإن فيها قصصاً وحوادث ما هي من كلام الله . فيقال للمصحف هو كلام الله بالتحقيق ولا يقال لأسفار العهدين كلام الله إلا على التغليب إذ لم يدع ذلك المرسلان بكتابي العهد . وقد تحداهم القرآن في هذه الآية بما يشتمل عليه القرآن من الهدى ببلاغة نظمه . وهذا دليل على أن مما يشتمل عليه من العلم والحقائق هو من طرق إعجازه كما قدمناه في المقدمة العاشرة .

قال تعالى ملزما لهم بذلك: { فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَا } أي: من التوراة والقرآن { أَتَّبِعْهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ } ولا سبيل لهم ولا لغيرهم أن يأتوا بمثلهما، فإنه ما طرق العالم منذ خلقه اللّه، مثل هذين الكتابين، علما وهدى، وبيانا، ورحمة للخلق، وهذا من كمال الإنصاف من الداعي أن قال: أنا مقصودي الحق والهدى والرشد، وقد جئتكم بهذا الكتاب المشتمل على ذلك، الموافق لكتاب موسى، فيجب علينا جميعا الإذعان لهما واتباعهما، من حيث كونهما هدى وحقا، فإن جئتموني بكتاب من عند اللّه هو أهدى منهما اتبعته، وإلا، فلا أترك هدى وحقا قد علمته لغير هدى وحق .

قوله تعالى : قل فأتوا بكتاب من عند الله هو أهدى منهما أتبعه أي قل يا محمد إذ كفرتم معاشر المشركين بهذين الكتابين فأتوا بكتاب من عند الله هو أهدى منهما أتبعه ليكون ذلك عذرا لكم في الكفر إن كنتم صادقين في أنهما سحران . أو فأتوا بكتاب هو أهدى من كتابي موسى ومحمد عليهما السلام . وهذا يقوي قراءة الكوفيين ( سحران ) . أتبعه . قال الفراء : بالرفع ; لأنه صفة للكتاب وكتاب نكرة . قال : وإذا جزمت - وهو الوجه - فعلى الشرط .

The real criterion for the acceptance or rejection of the message of Truth is its assessment on the basis of its inherent worth. If the message itself establishes that it is inherently a greater Truth, then that is sufficient to warrant its acceptance. Only Truth can answer Truth. If a man denies a truth and is unable to produce any other superior truth in its place, it indicates that he is denying the Truth as a result of following the dictates of his base desires. Those who behave in this way, have gone astray and are the worst of people. Such people will be treated as transgressors by God.

لِتُنذِرَ‌ قَوْمًا مَّا أَتَاهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٍ‌ ( so that you warn a people to whom no warner has come before - 28:46). The expression ` a people' is purported here for the Arabs, who are the progeny of Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) . No prophet was sent to this ` people' after Sayyidna Ismail علیہ السلام until the Holy Prophet ﷺ was sent. The same subject will follow in Surah Yasin. But this verse is not in conflict with the other verse إِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ‌ (There is no community, but there has come a warner among them - 35:24). What the present verse means here is that there was no prophet in ` this people' for a long time after Ismail . But after the arrival of the Holy Prophet ﷺ this void was filled up.

(Say) to them, O Muhammad: (Then bring a Scripture from the presence of Allah that giveth clearer guidance) more sound (than these two) the Qur'an and the Torah ((that) I may follow it) that I may act according to it, (if ye are truthful) that the Qur'an and Torah are two magics that support each other.