Tafheem-ul-Quran - Abul Ala Maududi

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Tafheem-ul-Quran - Abul Ala Maududi translation for Surah Al-Ahqaf — Ayah 8

46:8
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُۖ قُلۡ إِنِ ٱفۡتَرَيۡتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمۡلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيۡـًٔاۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِۚ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِيدَۢا بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٨
Do they claim that the Messenger himself has fabricated it?1 (If so), tell them: “If I have fabricated it, then you have no power to protect me from Allah's chastisement. He knows well the idle talk in which you indulge. He suffices as a witness between me and you.2 He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”3
Footnotes
  • [1] Qira’at: Nafieʻ, Ibn Kathir, Abu ‘Amr, Ibn ʻAmer and Abu Jaʻfar read it as: “. . . We will insert him into . . .”
  • [2] This interrogative tone expresses great surprise and amazement. It means to say: Are these people so shameless that they accuse Muhammad (peace be upon him) of fabricating the Quran himself? Whereas they know that it cannot be his word and their calling it magic is by itself an express proof that they regard it as an extraordinary word, which cannot be of human composition even according to themselves.
  • [3] As it was quite evident that their accusation was baseless and motivated by stubbornness, there was no need to present arguments to refute it. Therefore, only this much was regarded as a sufficient response: If I have really fabricated something and committed a grave crime by imputing it to Allah, as you accuse me of, you will not be able to rescue me from Allah’s punishment. But if it is really Allah’s Word, and you are rejecting it by bringing false accusations, Allah Himself will deal with you. For the reality is not hidden from Allah, and He is sufficient to decide between the truth and falsehood. If the whole world calls some one a liar, although he is truthful in Allah’s knowledge, the final decision will be in his favor. On the country, if the whole world regards some one as truthful though he is a liar in the knowledge of Allah, he will be regarded as a liar in the final judgment. Therefore, do not confuse things but pay heed to your final end.
  • [4] Here, this sentence gives two meanings:
  • [5] Qira’at: All except for Ibn Amer, Hafs, Hamza, Al-Kesa’i and Khalaf read it as: “And indeed . . .”
  • [6] The Arabic word used is Muslimoonwhich means those who willingly submit to God, regardless of which prophet they followed.