Transliteration:( 'A-unzila 'alaihiz zikru min baininaa; bal hum fee shakkin min Zikree bal lammaa yazooqoo 'azaab )
"Has this remembrance (Qur'an) been sent [13] upon him from amongst us all?" No, rather, they are in doubt concerning My remembrance [14] (Qur'an). No, but they have not yet tasted [15] My punishment."
This verse reveals the envy and pride of the Makkan disbelievers. They questioned why the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad ﷺ, someone not among their wealthy elite. Their objection was rooted in material arrogance, as they felt prophethood should belong to someone rich or socially powerful.
But Allah chose a man of truth and character, not one of wealth. This ensured that the rise of Islam was clearly due to its truth, not worldly resources—proving that divine selection is based on wisdom, not status.
The disbelievers could not settle on one accusation. They called the Qur’an poetry, magic, or lies, depending on their mood or strategy. Their doubt was not intellectual but willful, revealing an internal uneasiness about the undeniable power of the message.
They were not confused because of the Qur’an's content, but because they refused to humble themselves before its truth.
Allah states that they remain in doubt only because they have not yet experienced His punishment. Just like Pharaoh accepted the truth when facing destruction, these people would also be forced to submit if they faced divine wrath.
This verse reminds us that excessive comfort, wealth, and ease often lead to rebellion and heedlessness, making people blind to truth unless they are shaken by hardship.
The tafsir of Surah Sad verse 8 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Sad ayat 4 which provides the complete commentary from verse 4 through 11.
(38:8) Has this Exhortation been sent down among us only to him, to the exclusion of all others?” Nay, they are in doubt regarding My Exhortation,[10] and are saying all this because they have not yet had any taste of My chastisement.
10. In other words Allah says: Muhammad, these people are not belying you but Me. As for your truthfulness, they had never doubted it before. Now that they are doubting it, it is because of My Admonition. Now that I have entrusted to you the mission of admonishing them, they have started doubting the truthfulness of the very person whose righteousness and piety they used to swear by. The same theme has also been discussed in (Surah Al-Anaam, Ayat 33) note 21 thereof.
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