Al-Qur'an Surah Ibrahim Verse 10

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Their prophets said, “Is it in Allah that you have some doubt, who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you, so that He may forgive you some of your sins and give you respite up to a specified term.” They said, “You are no more than a human being like us. You want to prevent us from what our forefathers used to worship. So, bring us some clear authority.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Their messengers asked ˹them˺, “Is there any doubt about Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He is inviting you in order to forgive your sins, and delay your end until your appointed term.”[[ It is out of Allah’s mercy that He does not hasten your punishment but delays your death until your destined time.]] They argued, “You are no more than humans like us! You ˹only˺ wish to turn us away from what our forefathers worshipped. So bring us some compelling proof.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Their messengers said, “Can there be any doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and earth? He calls you so that He may forgive some of your sins, and give you respite for an appointed term.” They said, “You are but humans like us! You want to turn us away from what our forefathers used to worship; then bring us a clear proof.”

A. J. Arberry

Their Messengers said, 'Is there any doubt regarding God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, who calls you so that He may forgive you your sins, and defer you to a term stated?' They said, 'You are nothing but mortals, like us; you desire to bar us from that our fathers served; then bring us a manifest authority.'

Abdul Haleem

Their messengers answered, ‘Can there be any doubt about God, the Creator of the heavens and earth? He calls you to Him in order to forgive you your sins and let you enjoy your life until the appointed hour.’ But they said, ‘You are only men like us. You want to turn us away from what our forefathers used to worship. Bring us clear proof then, [if you can].’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Their apostles said: is there doubt about Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? He calleth you that he may forgive you of your sins and retain you till a term fixed. They said: ye are but like us; ye mean to turn us aside from that which our fathers have been worshipping; so bring us a warranty manifest.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Their messengers said; "Is there a doubt about Allah, The Creator of the heavens and the earth? It is He Who invites you, in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!" They said; "Ah! ye are no more than human, like ourselves! Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship; then bring us some clear authority."

Abul Ala Maududi

Their Messengers said: "Can there be any doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you that He may forgive you your sins and grant you respite till an appointed term." They replied: "You are only a human being like ourselves. You seek to prevent us from serving those whom our forefathers have been serving all along. If that is so, produce a clear authority for it."

Ahmed Ali

Said their apostles: "Can there be doubt about God, the originator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you to forgive some of your sins, and give you respite for a time ordained." They said: "You are only men like us, and yet you wish to turn us away from what our fathers worshipped. Bring to us then a clear proof."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Their Noble Messengers said, “What! You doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you that He may forgive some of your sins and until the time of death give you a life free from punishment”; they said, “You are just human beings like us; you wish to prevent us from what our forefathers used to worship – therefore now bring some clear proof to us.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Their apostles said, ‘Is there any doubt about Allah, the originator of the heavens and the earth?! He calls you to forgive you a part of your sins, and grants you respite until a specified time.’ They said, ‘You are nothing but humans like us who desire to bar us from what our fathers used to worship. So bring us a manifest authority.’

Ali Ünal

Their Messengers said: "Can there be any doubt about (the Existence, Oneness, and absolute Sovereignty of) God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you so that He may forgive you your sins and grant you respite until a term appointed by Him (not destroying you because of your sins)." But they said: "You are but mortals like us; you desire to bar us from what our forefathers used to worship: well, then, bring us some clear authority."

Amatul Rahman Omar

Their Messengers (of God) said, `Is there any doubt about Allâh, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you (to Himself) that He may protect you against your sins and grant you respite till an appointed time (to the end of your lives).´ They said, `You are nothing but a human being like ourselves. You desire to stop us from (worshipping) that our fathers have been worshipping, well better bring us some manifest authority.´

English Literal

Their messenger said: "Is (there) doubt/suspicion in God, creator/bringer to being (of) the skies/space and the earth/Planet Earth, He calls you to forgive for you from your crimes, and He delays you to (a) named/identified term/time?" They said: "That you are except humans similar/equal to us, you want/intend that you prevent/obstruct us from what our fathers were worshipping, so come to us/bring to us with a clear/evident proof/evidence ."

Faridul Haque

Their Noble Messengers said, "What! You doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you that He may forgive some of your sins and until the time of death give you a life free from punishment"; they said, "You are just human beings like us; you wish to prevent us from what our forefathers used to worship - therefore now bring some clear proof to us."

Hamid S. Aziz

Their Messengers said, "Is there doubt about Allah, the originator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you to pardon you for your sins, and to reprieve you unto an appointed term." They said, "You are but mortals like ourselves; you wish to turn us from what our fathers used to serve. Bring us, then, clear authority!"

Hilali & Khan

Their Messengers said: "What! Can there be a doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you (to Monotheism and to be obedient to Allah) that He may forgive you of your sins and give you respite for a term appointed." They said: "You are no more than human beings like us! You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring us a clear authority i.e. a clear proof of what you say)."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Has not the account reached you of those before you, of the people of Noah and ‘Ad and Thamud -- and those after them? None knows them but Allah. Their messengers came to them with clear arguments, but they thrust their hands into their mouths and said: We deny that with which you are sent, and surely we are in serious doubt as to that to which you invite us.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Their apostles said: Is there doubt about Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? He invites you to forgive you your faults and to respite you till an appointed term. They said: You are nothing but mortals like us; you wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship; bring us therefore some clear authority.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Their messengers said: Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calleth you that He may forgive you your sins and reprieve you unto an appointed term. They said: Ye are but mortals like us, who would fain turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring some clear warrant.

Muhammad Sarwar

The Messengers asked them, "Could there be any doubt about the existence of God who has created the heavens and the earth? He calls you to Himself to forgive your sins. He gives you respite only until the appointed time." They said, "You are mere mortals like us. What you want is to prevent us from worshipping that which our fathers worshipped. Show us clear proof (if what you say is true)."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Their Messengers said: 'Is there any doubt about Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you to Him in order that He forgives you your sins and defers you till a stated term' They said: 'You are only mortals like us. You wish to bar us from that which our fathers worshipped. Give us some clear proof.'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Their Messengers said: "(What!) Can there be a doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth He calls you that He may forgive you of your sins and give you respite for a term appointed." They said: "You are no more than human beings like us! You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring us a clear authority."

Wahiduddin Khan

Their messengers said, "Is there any doubt about God, the Originator of the heavens and earth? He calls you to Him in order to forgive you some of your offences and to reprieve you for a specific period." They said, "You are only human beings like ourselves! You want to divert us from what our forefathers have been worshipping, so bring us some clear authority."

Talal Itani

Their messengers said, “Is there any doubt about God, Maker of the heavens and the earth? He calls you to forgive you your sins, and to defer you until a stated term.” They said, “You are only humans like us; you want to turn us away from what our ancestors worshiped; so bring us a clear proof.”

Tafsir jalalayn

Their messengers said, `Can there be doubt concerning God (an interrogative meant as a denial), in other words, there can be no doubt concerning His Oneness, given the manifest proofs of it, the Originator, the Creator, of the heavens and the earth? He calls you, to obedience of Him, so that He might forgive you your sins (min dhunbikum; min is extra, since through submission [to the One God] all that may have been committed previously is forgiven (or else it [min, `some of'] is partitive, intended to state that [forgiveness] which is due to [God's] servants) and defer you, without chastisement, to an appointed term', the term of death. They said, `You are but mortals like us, desiring to bar us from that which our fathers used to worship, in the way of idols. So bring us a clear warrant', a manifest argument demonstrating your truthfulness.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Argument between the Prophets and the Disbelievers

Allah says;

قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ

Their Messengers said;

Allah narrates to us the arguments that ensued between the disbelievers and their Messengers. When their nations doubted the Message of worshipping Allah alone without partners, the Messengers said,

أَفِي اللّهِ شَكٌّ

(What!) Can there be a doubt about Allah...

about His Lordship and having the exclusive right to be worshipped alone, being the only Creator of all creatures!

فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضِ

the Creator of the heavens and the earth!

Verily, none besides Allah is worthy of worship, alone without partners with Him. Most nations were, and still are, affirming the existence of the Creator, but they call upon intermediaries besides Him whom they think will benefit them or bring them closer to Allah.

Their Messengers said to them,

يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ

He calls you that He may forgive you of your sins, (in the Hereafter),

وَيُوَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَـمًّى

and give you respite for a term appointed,

in this worldly life.

Allah said in other Ayat,

وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُمْ مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُوْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ

Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding grace to every owner of grace. (10;3)

However, their nations went on arguing against their Prophethood, after they had to submit to the first evidence (that Allah Alone created everything).
Disbelievers reject Prophethood because the Messengers were Humans!

Their nations said,

قَالُواْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا

They said;"You are no more than human beings like us!

so why should we follow you just because you say so, even though we did not witness a miracle by your hands,

تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ابَأوُنَا

You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship.

فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ



Then bring us a clear authority.

i.e. a miracle of our choice