Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 124

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When a sign comes to them, they say, “We shall never come to believe unless we are given the like of what was given to the messengers of Allah.” Allah knows best where to place His message. Those who committed sin shall soon suffer from disgrace before Allah and face severe punishment for the mischief they have been making.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Whenever a sign comes to them, they say, “We will never believe until we receive what Allah’s messengers received.” Allah knows best where to place His message. The wicked will soon be overwhelmed by humiliation from Allah and a severe punishment for their evil plots.

Ruwwad Translation Center

When a sign comes to them, they say, “We will never believe until we are given the like of what was given to the messengers of Allah.” Allah knows best where to place His message. Those who are wicked will be afflicted with disgrace from Allah and a severe punishment for their plots.

A. J. Arberry

And when a sign came to them, they said, 'We will not believe until we are given the like of what God's Messengers were given.' God knows very well where to place His Message; and humiliation in God's sight shall befall the sinners, and a terrible chastisement, for what they devised.

Abdul Haleem

When a revelation is brought before them they say, ‘We shall not believe unless we ourselves are given a revelation as God’s messengers were.’ But God knows best where to place His messages: humiliation before God and severe torment will befall the evildoers for their scheming.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And whensoever there cometh unto them a sign, they say: we shall not believe until we are vouchsafed the like of that which is vouchsafed unto the apostles of Allah. Allah knoweth best wheresoever to place His apostleship. Anon shall befall those who have sinned vileness before Allah and severe chastisement for that which they were wont to plot.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When there comes to them a sign (from Allah), They say; "We shall not believe until we receive one (exactly) like those received by Allah's messengers." Allah knoweth best where (and how) to carry out His mission. Soon will the wicked be overtaken by humiliation before Allah, and a severe punishment, for all their plots.

Abul Ala Maududi

Whenever there comes to them a sign from Allah, they say: 'We will not believe until we are given what was given to the Messengers of Allah.' Allah knows best where to place His message. Soon shall these wicked ones meet with humiliation and severe chastigement from Allah for all their evil plotting.

Ahmed Ali

Every time a sign comes to them they say: "We shall never believe till what God's apostles had been given comes to us." God knows best where to direct His messages. A degradation will befall the sinners and chastisement from God for deceiving.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when a sign comes to them, they say, “We will not believe until we are given the same which Allah’s Noble Messengers were given”; Allah knows best where to place His message (prophethood); soon the guilty will be afflicted with disgrace before Allah and a severe punishment due to their scheming.

Ali Quli Qarai

When a sign comes to them, they say, ‘We will not believe until we are given the like of what was given to Allah’s apostles.’ Allah knows best where to place His apostleship! Soon the guilty will be visited by a degradation and severe punishment from Allah because of the plots they used to devise.

Ali Ünal

When a Revelation is conveyed to them, they say: "We will not believe unless we are given the like of what God’s Messengers were given." God knows best upon whom to place His Message. Soon will an abasement from God’s Presence befall these criminals and a severe punishment for their scheming.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And when there comes to them a (Divine) Message they say, `We will never believe unless we ourselves are given the like of what has been given to the Messengers of Allâh.´ Allâh knows best whom to entrust His Messengership. Surely, humiliation and severe and disgraceful punishment from Allâh shall befall those who cut off their ties (with Him) because of their intrigues (against Our Prophets).

English Literal

And if an evidence/verse came to them, they said: "We will never/not believe until we be given/brought similar/equal/alike (to) what was given/brought (to) God`s messengers." God (is) more knowing where/when He makes/puts His message, those who committed a sin/crime will be struck/marked (with) humiliation/lowliness/subservience at God, and strong (severe) torture because (of) what they were cheating/deceiving.

Faridul Haque

And when a sign comes to them, they say, “We will not believe until we are given the same which Allah’s Noble Messengers were given”; Allah knows best where to place His message (Prophethood); soon the guilty will be afflicted with disgrace before Allah and a severe punishment due to their scheming.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when there comes to them a Sign, they say, "We will not believe until we receive something like the Messenger received." Allah knows best where to put His Message. There shall befall these wicked ones, humiliation in Allah´s eyes, and grievous torment for their scheming.

Hilali & Khan

And when there comes to them a sign (from Allah) they say: "We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah had received." Allah knows best with whom to place His Message. Humiliation and disgrace from Allah and a severe torment will overtake the criminals (polytheists, sinners, etc.) for that which they used to plot.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And thus have We made in every town the leaders of its guilty ones, that they may make plans therein. And they plan not but against themselves, and they perceive not.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when a communication comes to them they say: We will not believe till we are given the like of what Allah's apostles are given. Allah best knows where He places His message. There shall befall those who are guilty humiliation from Allah and severe chastisement because of what they planned.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when a token cometh unto them, they say: We will not believe till we are given that which Allah's messengers are given. Allah knoweth best with whom to place His message. Humiliation from Allah and heavy punishment will smite the guilty for their scheming.

Muhammad Sarwar

When a miracle is shown to them, they say, "We will not believe unless we are shown a miracle like that shown to the messengers of God." God knows best whom to appoint as His Messenger. The sinful ones are worthless in the sight of God and they deserve a severe punishment for their evil plans.

Qaribullah & Darwish

When a sign came to them they said: 'We will not believe in it unless we are given that which the Messengers of Allah have been given' But Allah knows best where to place His Message. Humiliation with Allah shall befall the sinners as well as a terrible punishment for what they devised.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when there comes to them a sign they say: "We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah received." Allah knows best with whom to entrust His Message. Humiliation and disgrace from Allah and a severe torment will overtake the criminals for that which they used to plot.

Wahiduddin Khan

When a sign comes to them, they say, "We will not believe in it until we are given what God's messengers have been given. But God knows best whom to appoint as His Messenger. Humiliation before God and severe torment will befall the evil-doers for their scheming.

Talal Itani

When a sign comes to them, they say, “We will not believe unless we are given the like of what was given to God’s messengers.” God knows best where to place His message. Humiliation from God and severe torment will afflict the criminals for their scheming.

Tafsir jalalayn

And when a sign, of the truth of the Prophet (s), comes to them, the people of Mecca, they say, `We will not believe, in him, until we are given the like of what God's messengers were given', in the way of a message and inspiration to us, because we are wealthier and more senior in years. God, exalted be He, says; God knows best where to place His Message (read plural [risltihi, `His Messages'] or singular [rislatahu, `His Message']; hayth, `where', constitutes the direct object because of the verb [ya`lam, `He knows'] implicit in a`lam, `the best knower') that is to say, He knows the right place for it to be placed in, and He thus places it [there] -- these people, however, are not worthy of it. Humiliation from God and a terrible chastisement shall smite those who have sinned, by saying this, for their plotting.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَإِذَا جَاءتْهُمْ ايَةٌ قَالُواْ لَن نُّوْمِنَ حَتَّى نُوْتَى مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ اللّهِ

And when there comes to them a sign they say;"We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah received."

When there comes to them a sign they say,
لَن نُّوْمِنَ حَتَّى نُوْتَى مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ اللّهِ
(We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah received.) until the angels bring us the Message from Allah, just as they brought it to the Messengers.

In another Ayah, Allah said,

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَأءَنَا لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْمَلَـيِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَى رَبَّنَا

And those who expect not a meeting with Us said;"Why are not the angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord!" (25;21)

Allah's statement,

اللّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ

Allah knows best with whom to entrust His Message.

means, He knows best with whom His Message should be given and which of His creatures are suitable for it.

Allah said in other Ayat,

وَقَالُوا

لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ هَذَا الْقُرْانُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِّنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ


أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّكَ


And they say;"Why is not this Qur'an sent down to some great man of the two towns!" Is it they who would portion out the mercy of your Lord! (43;31-32)

They said, why was not this Qur'an revealed to a mighty, respectable leader, honored by us,
مِّنَ الْقَرْيَتَيْنِ
(...from one of the two towns) Of Makkah and At-Ta'if. This is because they, may Allah curse them, belittled the Messenger out of envy, transgression, rebellion and defiance. Allah described them,

وَإِذَا رَأَوْكَ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلاَّ هُزُواً أَهَـذَا الَّذِى بَعَثَ اللَّهُ رَسُولاً


And when they see you, they only mock;"Is this the one whom Allah has sent as a Messenger!" (25;41)

and,

وَإِذَا رَاكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلاَّ هُزُواً أَهَـذَا الَّذِى يَذْكُرُ الِهَتَكُمْ وَهُمْ بِذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَـنِ هُمْ كَـفِرُونَ

And when those who disbelieved see you, they only mock at you;"Is this the one who talks about your gods!" While they disbelieve at the mention of the Most Gracious (Allah). (21;36)

and,

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِىءَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِالَّذِينَ سَخِرُواْ مِنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

Indeed Messengers were mocked before, but the scoffers were surrounded by that, whereat they used to mock. (21;41)
The Disbelievers Admit to the Prophet's Nobility of Lineage

The disbelievers did all of this although they admitted to the Prophet's virtue, honorable lineage, respectable ancestry and purity of household and upbringing, may Allah, His angels, and the believers send blessings upon him.

The disbelievers used to call the Prophet, before he received revelation, Al-Amin -- the Truthful. The leader of the Quraysh disbelievers, Abu Sufyan, had to admit to this fact when Heraclius, emperor of Rome, asked him, "How honorable is his (the Prophet's) ancestral lineage among you!"

Abu Sufyan answered, "His ancestry is highly regarded among us."

Heraclius asked, "Do you find that he lied, before he started his mission!"

Abu Sufyan replied, "No."

The emperor of Rome relied on the honor and purity of the Prophet to recognize the truth of his Prophethood and what he came with.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Wathilah bin Al-Asqa said that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّ اللهَ اصْطَفَى مِنْ وَلَدِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَاصْطَفَى مِنْ بَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ بَنِي كِنَانَةَ وَاصْطَفَى مِنْ بَنِي كِنَانَةَ قُرَيْشًا وَاصْطَفَى مِنْنُقرَيْشٍ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَاصْطَفَانِي مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِم

Verily, Allah has chosen Ismail from the offspring of Ibrahim, Bani Kinanah from the offspring of Ismail, Quraysh from Bani Kinanah, Bani Hashim from Quraysh and, He has chosen me from Bani Hashim.

Muslim recorded this Hadith.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

بُعِثْتُ مِنْ خَيْرِ قُرُونِ بَنِي ادَمَ قَرْنًا فَقَرْنًا حَتَّى بُعِثْتُ مِنَ الْقَرْنِ الَّذِي كُنْتُ فِيه

I was chosen from a succession of the best generations of the Children of Adam, until the generation I was sent in.

Allah's said,

سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُواْ صَغَارٌ عِندَ اللّهِ وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ

Humiliation and disgrace from Allah and a severe torment will overtake the criminals...,

This is a stern threat and sure promise from Allah for those who arrogantly refrain from obeying His Messengers and adhering to what they came with. On the Day of Resurrection, they will suffer humiliation and eternal disgrace before Allah, because they were arrogant in the worldly life. This is why it is befitting that they earn disgrace on the Day of Resurrection.

Allah said in another Ayah,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَخِرِينَ

Verily, those who scorn My worship, they will surely enter Hell in humiliation! (40;60),

disgrace and dishonor.

Allah said next,

وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَمْكُرُونَ



and a severe torment for that which they used to plot.

Since plotting usually takes place in secret and involves treachery and deceit, the disbelievers were recompensed with severe torment from Allah on the Day of Resurrection, as a just reckoning,

وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا

And your Lord treats no one with injustice. (18;49)

Allah said in another Ayah,

يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَايِرُ

The Day when all the secrets will be examined. (86;9)

Meaning, the secrets, hidden thoughts and intentions will be exposed.

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah said,

يُنْصَبُ لِكُلِّ غَادِرٍ لِوَاءٌ عِنْدَ اسْتِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُقَالُ هَذِهِ غَدْرَةُ فُلَنِ بْنِ فُلَنِ بْنِ فُلَن

A banner will be raised for every deceitful person from his anus on the Day of Resurrection, and it will say; `This is the treacherous plot of so-and-so, son of so-and-so, son of so-and-so.

The wisdom in this is that since a plot occurs in secret, and people are usually unaware of it, then on the Day of Resurrection the plot itself will become public news testifying to the actions of those who committed it