Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 7

(Ayah7) ➊ {وَ يَقُوْلُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَوْ لَاۤ اُنْزِلَ …:} In this verse, Allah Almighty has pointed to another meanness of the disbelievers, that these disbelievers, despite seeing the greatest sign (the greatest miracle, that is, the Noble Qur’an) among all the signs (miracles) of the prophets, are saying: why has no sign (miracle) been sent down upon him? If you want to see examples of their demands, look at Surah Bani Isra’il (90 to 93). A sign, that is, a miracle, is of two types: one is tanzili, meaning the commands and verses sent down from Allah Almighty, and the other is takwini, meaning those before which the entire universe is helpless. The Qur’an contains both excellences: it has verses of guidance, and for the whole world, first the complete book, then the challenge to bring ten surahs like it, and then only one surah like it, is open until the Day of Judgment, to which the disbelievers have not been able to respond to this day. See the wretchedness of the disbelievers, yet they still say: why has no sign been sent down upon him?

➋ {اِنَّمَاۤ اَنْتَ مُنْذِرٌ وَّ لِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ:} The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was both a bearer of glad tidings and a warner, but here only his attribute as a warner is mentioned, because the mention is of the disbelievers. {’’ مُنْذِرٌ ‘‘} And on {’’ هَادٍ ‘‘ } the tanween is for magnification, meaning for those who do not believe in Allah, there is a need for a warner from the punishment of this world and the Hereafter, and for every nation there is a great guide. Your task is not to show miracles, but your responsibility is to warn people of the evil end of disbelief, so you are not one who shows miracles, but only a great guide, that is, a warner and one who gives awareness. (With {’’ اِنَّمَاۤ ‘‘} this is an additional restriction, meaning instead of being one who shows miracles, you are a warner; it does not mean that you are nothing except a warner.) Then nations need a guide, and you are also a great guide, so do not be distressed by their unreasonable demands. In Mustadrak Hakim (3/140, Hadith: 4646) it is mentioned that regarding this verse «{ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنْتَ مُنْذِرٌ وَّ لِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ}», Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is the warner and I am the guide.” But this narration is not Sahih, and then to deduce immediate caliphate from it is also incorrect, as is evident. The reality is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) alone is the warner from Allah and he alone is the guide. Then those people who conveyed, are conveying, and will continue to convey your knowledge and religion, that is, the pure Book and Sunnah (not people’s opinions and analogies), through da’wah and jihad, such as the four caliphs, the noble companions, the mujahideen of Islam, the hadith scholars, the just judges, and the caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them all), all are your true successors.

7. 1. Allah granted every prophet certain signs and miracles according to circumstances, needs, His will, and wisdom, but disbelievers kept demanding miracles of their own choosing. For example, the disbelievers of Makkah would say to the Prophet ﷺ that Mount Safa should be turned into gold, or that rivers and springs should flow in place of mountains, and so on. When a miracle was not shown according to their wishes, they would say, "Why has no sign (miracle) been sent down upon him?" Allah said, "O Prophet! Your duty is only to convey the message. Keep doing that, whether anyone accepts it or not, that is not your concern, because giving guidance is Our task. Your job is to show the way; making someone walk upon that path is not your job, it is Ours."

7. 2. That is, for the guidance and guideship of every nation, Allah has certainly sent a guide. It is a different matter whether the nations adopted the path of guidance or not. But to indicate the straight path, a prophet has certainly come to every nation. (وان من امۃ الا خلا فیھا نذیر) Fatir. In every nation, a warner has certainly come.

7. The disbelievers say: "Why has no sign [12] been sent down to him from his Lord?" (O Prophet!) You are only a warner, and for every people there is a guide.

[12]
Even When Sensory Demands Are Fulfilled, Disbelievers Do Not Believe:

That is, they require some such sensory miracle by which they can be convinced that you are truly the Prophet of Allah and are truthful. However, the deniers of the truth do not believe even after witnessing such sensory miracles. Did the people of Salihؑ believe in him after seeing the miracle of the she-camel? Or did the people of Musaؑ believe in him after seeing the staff and the shining hand? Or did the Jews believe in Sayyiduna Isaؑ, who used to bring the dead to life? Even after witnessing such miracles, the antagonists do not believe; rather, they begin to present other material explanations for them. Therefore, if the polytheists of Makkah do not take heed from the arguments of the Quran and the signs of Allah scattered throughout the universe, then sensory miracles are also useless for them. You should not worry about this. Your only task is to show them the straight path and to warn them of the consequences, and this was the only task of every guide We sent to every nation. Fulfilling such demands of the deniers was never their responsibility.