Transliteration:( Wa izaa lam ta'tihim bi aayatin qaaloo law lajtabai tahaa; qul innamaaa attabi'u maa yoohaaa ilaiya mir Rabbee; haazaa basaaa'iru mir Rabbikum wa hudanw wa rahmatul liqawminy yu'minoon )
And when you do not bring them a sign, they say [457], "Why have you not selected one yourself?" Please declare: "I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This is a clear insight from your Lord, and guidance and mercy for a people who believe" [458].
Here, the word "sign" refers to Qur'ānic verses. Whenever revelation paused briefly, the disbelievers would mock and accuse the Prophet ﷺ, claiming it was a joke. At other times, they would demand verses of their own choosing, suggesting specific laws or content. When such demands weren’t fulfilled, they would ridicule the Qur'ān and the Prophet ﷺ. This verse corrects their ignorance by affirming that the Prophet ﷺ does not invent verses, but rather conveys only what is revealed by his Lord.
The Qur’ān is a clear guidance, filled with insight and truth from Allah. While it is a general mercy to all of mankind—offering guidance and warning—its special blessings, such as faith, forgiveness, and eternal salvation, are for the believers only. Just as the Holy Prophet ﷺ is a Mercy for all worlds, he is a unique blessing to the believers, without contradiction. Thus, only those who believe truly benefit from this divine message.
203. 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.”
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on Allah’s statement,
(they say, “Why have you not brought it”) “They say, `Why have you not received a miracle”’, or, “Why have you not initiated or made it” Ibn Jarir reported that, `Abdullah bin Kathir said that Mujahid said about Allah’s statement,
(And if you do not bring them a miracle, they say: “Why have you not brought it”) “They say, `Produce a miracle of your own.”’ Qatadah, As-Suddi, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and Ibn Jarir agreed with this. Allah said next,
(And if you do not bring them an Ayah) a miracle or a sign. Similarly, Allah said,
(If We will, We could send down to them from the heaven a sign, to which they would bend their necks in humility.) ﴿26:4﴾ The pagans asked the Prophet, why did you not strive hard to bring us an Ayah (miracle) from Allah so that we witness it and believe in it. Allah said to him,
(Say: “I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord.”) I do not ask such things of my Lord. I only follow what He reveals and commands me. Therefore, if Allah sends a miracle, I will accept it. Otherwise, I will not ask for it unless He allows me. Certainly, Allah is Most Wise, the All-Knower. Allah next directs the servants to the fact that this Qur’an is the most powerful miracle, clearest evidence and most true proof and explanation, saying,
(This (the Qur’an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.)
(7:203) [O Prophet!] When you do not produce before them any miracle, they say: ‘Why do you not choose for yourself a miracle?’[151] 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.[152]
151. This question is a taunt rather than a simple query. What the utterance implies is that if the claim to prophethood is genuine, it should have been supported by some miracle. The next verse contains a fitting rejoinder to the taunt.
152. The Prophet (peace be on him) is being made to tell his opponents in clear terms that he has no power to get whatever he wants. Being God’s Messenger, he is required to follow the directives of the One Who has sent him and has granted him the Qur’an which has the light of guidance. The major characteristic of this Book is that those who seek guidance from it do indeed find the right way. The moral excellence visible in the lives of those people who accept the Qur’an is testimony to the fact that they have been blessed with God’s mercy.
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