Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 203

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When you do not bring them a sign, they say, “Could you not make up one?”Say, “I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord.” This is (a Book of) insights from your Lord and a guidance and mercy for a people who believe.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If you ˹O Prophet˺ do not bring them a sign ˹which they demanded˺, they ask, “Why do you not make it yourself?” Say, “I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This ˹Quran˺ is an insight from your Lord—a guide and a mercy for those who believe.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

When you do not bring them a sign, they say, “Why do you not improvise one?” Say, “I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This [Qur’an] is an insight from your Lord, and a guidance and mercy for people who believe.”

A. J. Arberry

And when thou bringest them not a sign, they say, 'Why hast thou not chosen one?' Say: 'I follow only what is revealed to me from my Lord; this is clear testimony from your Lord, guidance, and mercy for a people of believers.'

Abdul Haleem

When you do not bring them a fresh revelation, they say, ‘But can you not just ask for one?’ Say, ‘I merely repeat what is revealed to me from my Lord: this revelation brings you insights from your Lord, and guidance and mercy for those who believe,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And whenever thou bringest not unto them, as a sign, they say: wherefore hast not thou selected it? Say thou: I only follow that which hath been revealed unto me by my Lord. This is an enlightenment from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy unto a people who believe.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If thou bring them not a revelation, they say; "Why hast thou not got it together?" Say; "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord; this is (nothing but) lights from your Lord, and Guidance, and mercy, for any who have faith."

Abul Ala Maududi

[O Prophet!] When you do not produce before them any miracle, they say: 'Why do you not choose for yourself a miracle?' Say to them: 'I follow only what is revealed to me by my Lord. This is nothing but a means of insight into the truth, and guidance and mercy from your Lord to the people who believe.

Ahmed Ali

And when you do not bring a (Qur'anic) verse to them, they say: "Why don't you make one up?" Say: "I follow only what my Lord reveals to me." These (revelations) are an evident proof from your Lord, and a guidance and grace for those who believe.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) when you do not bring to them a verse, they say, “Why did you not fabricate it?” Say, “I follow only what is divinely revealed to me from my Lord”; this (the Holy Qur’an) is an enlightenment from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for the Muslims.

Ali Quli Qarai

When you do not bring them a sign, they say, ‘Why do you not improvise one?’ Say, ‘I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord; these are insights from your Lord, and a guidance and mercy for a people who have faith.’

Ali Ünal

When you (O Messenger) do not produce for them a sign (a miracle of the kind they desire, or Revelation temporarily ceases), they say, "Were you unable to make one up?" Say: "I only follow whatever is revealed to me from my Lord. This (the Qur’an) is the light of discernment and insight (into the truth) from your Lord, and guidance and mercy for people who will believe and who have already believed."

Amatul Rahman Omar

And when you do not bring to them a (fresh) revelation they say, `Why do you not forge a verse (and invent it as a revelation)?´ Say, `I only follow what is revealed to me by my Lord. These (Qur´ânic verses) are enlightening (and) proofs from your Lord and source of guidance and mercy (of Allâh) for a people who would believe,

English Literal

And if you did not bring them with a verse/evidence , they said: "If only you chose/purified it." Say: "But I follow what (is) inspired/transmitted to me from my Lord, those (are) visions/evidences from your Lord, and guidance, and mercy to a nation believing."

Faridul Haque

And O dear Prophet (Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) when you do not bring to them a verse, they say, "Why did you not fabricate it?" Say, "I follow only what is divinely revealed to me from my Lord"; this (the Holy Qur’an) is an enlightenment from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for the Muslims.

Hamid S. Aziz

If you bring them not a verse (of revelation) they say, "Have you not yet made choice of one? Say, "I only follow what is inspired in me by my Lord. These are lights (perceptions, insights) from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy to a people who have faith."

Hilali & Khan

And if you do not bring them a miracle [according to their (i.e. Quraish-pagans') proposal], they say: "Why have you not brought it?" Say: "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This (the Quran) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And their brethren increase them in error, then they cease not.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when you bring them not a revelation they say: Why do you not forge it? Say: I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord; these are clear proofs from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when thou bringest not a verse for them they say: Why hast thou not chosen it? Say: I follow only that which is inspired in me from my Lord. This (Qur'an) is insight from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people that believe.

Muhammad Sarwar

If you, (Muhammad), do not show them a miracle, they will keep on insisting that you must show them one. Say, "I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This (Quran) contains wisdom for you from your Lord. It contains guidance and mercy for those who have faith.

Qaribullah & Darwish

When you do not bring them a verse, they say, 'Why have you not chosen one' Say: 'I follow only what is revealed to me from my Lord. This (Koran) is a veritable proof from your Lord, guidance and mercy for people who believe'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And if you do not bring them a miracle, they say: "Why have you not brought it" Say: "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This (the Qur'an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe."

Wahiduddin Khan

When you do not bring them a sign, they say, "Why do you not invent one?" Say, "I follow only what is revealed to me by my Lord. This Book is an enlightenment from your Lord and a guide and mercy to true believers.

Talal Itani

If you do not produce a miracle for them, they say, “Why don’t you improvise one.” Say, “I only follow what is inspired to me from my Lord.” These are insights from your Lord, and guidance, and mercy, for a people who believe.

Tafsir jalalayn

And when you do not bring them, that is, the people of Mecca, a sign, from among those which they request, they say, `Why have you not chosen one?', [why have you not] produced one [all by] yourself? Say, to them; `I follow only that which is revealed to me from my Lord, and it is not for me to bring anything from myself; this, Qur'n, is insight, proofs, from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Idolators ask to witness Miracles

Allah says;
وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِم بِأيَةٍ قَالُواْ لَوْلَا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا قَالُواْ لَوْلَا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِم بِأيَةٍ قَالُواْ لَوْلَا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِم بِأيَةٍ إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِّنَ السَّمَأءِ ءَايَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَـقُهُمْ لَهَا خَـضِعِينَ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَتَّبِعُ مَا يِوحَى إِلَيَّ مِن رَّبِّي هَـذَا بَصَأيِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوْمِنُونَ

This (the Qur'an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe