سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْقَافِ
Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) — Ayah 8
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ إِنِ ٱفْتَرَيْتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمْلِكُونَ لِى مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۖ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿8﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Or say they: "He (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) has fabricated it." Say: "If I have fabricated it? still you have no power to support me against Allâh. He knows best of what you say among yourselves concerning it (i.e. this Qur’ân)! Sufficient is He as a witness between me and you! And He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَمْ
am
Or
يَقُولُونَ
yaqūlūna
they say
ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ
if'tarāhu
He has invented it
قُلْ
qul
Say
إِنِ
ini
If
ٱفْتَرَيْتُهُۥ
if'taraytuhu
I have invented it
فَلَا
falā
then not
تَمْلِكُونَ
tamlikūna
you have power
لِى
lī
for me
مِنَ
mina
against
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
شَيْـًٔا ۖ
shayan
anything
هُوَ
huwa
He
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
knows best
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تُفِيضُونَ
tufīḍūna
you utter
فِيهِ ۖ
fīhi
concerning it
كَفَىٰ
kafā
Sufficient is He
بِهِۦ
bihi
Sufficient is He
شَهِيدًۢا
shahīdan
(as) a Witness
بَيْنِى
baynī
between me
وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۖ
wabaynakum
and between you
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and He
ٱلْغَفُورُ
l-ghafūru
(is) the Oft-Forgiving
ٱلرَّحِيمُ
l-raḥīmu
the Most Merciful
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 8) ➊ { اَمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ افْتَرٰىهُ:} This is another excuse for not believing. Instead of using "waaw" for conjunction, the particle {’’ اَمْ ‘‘} has been brought, meaning: their statement that this is magic is one thing, but listen to an even stranger thing—they say that he has authored the Qur’an himself and, while lying, has claimed that this is the word of Allah. Whereas in this, they are negating their own statement, because if this is magic, then it is not your (ﷺ) own speech, and if it is your (ﷺ) speech, then it is not magic.
➋ The answer to {قُلْ اِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهٗ فَلَا تَمْلِكُوْنَ لِيْ مِنَ اللّٰهِ شَيْـًٔا: ’’ اِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهٗ ‘‘} is omitted, which is understood from {’’ فَلَا تَمْلِكُوْنَ لِيْ ‘‘}: {’’أَيْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ عَاقَبَنِيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَي الْإِفْتِرَاءِ فَلَا تَمْلِكُوْنَ لِيْ مِنَ اللّٰهِ شَيْئًا ‘‘} "That is, say to them: If I have committed the crime of fabricating lies, then surely Allah will punish me for fabricating lies, and you will be of no help to me against Allah." In another place, Allah has said: « وَ لَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْاَقَاوِيْلِ (44) لَاَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِيْنِ (45) ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِيْنَ (46) فَمَا مِنْكُمْ مِّنْ اَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حٰجِزِيْنَ» [ الحاقۃ : ۴۴ تا ۴۷ ] "And if he had fabricated any sayings against Us, We would have seized him by the right hand, then We would have cut off his life artery, and none of you could have prevented Us from doing so."
➌ {هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيْضُوْنَ فِيْهِ … :} That is, when you have reached the point where you call this speech fabrication and human speech, while you have been unable to produce even the smallest surah like it, and it has become clear to everyone that it is not human speech, nor can any human produce such speech, then there is no benefit in arguing with you. I entrust my matter to Allah; He knows well the things you keep inventing—sometimes calling it magic, sometimes soothsaying, sometimes poetry, and sometimes a storm of lies fabricated against Allah. He alone is sufficient to decide between me and you, because He is aware of everything both of us say and is a witness to every occasion.
➍ { وَ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ:} The relevance of this sentence at this place is twofold: first, that your calling the Qur’an a fabrication and the Prophet a fabricator is such a great crime that if Allah were not Forgiving and Merciful, but rather a merciless and harsh master, He would not have given you even a moment’s respite. It is only His forgiveness and mercy that, despite such insolence, He does not seize you immediately, but gives you respite so that you may turn back at any time. The second relevance is this encouragement: even now, if you give up this stubbornness, Allah’s forgiveness and mercy await you, because He is both Forgiving and Merciful. There is no limit to His forgiveness or His mercy; whatever you have done, He will still forgive. {’’ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ ‘‘} is the predicate of the pronoun {’’ هُوَ ‘‘}, and with the definite article, exclusivity is created in the speech, meaning: only He is Forgiving and Merciful, and there is no one else who can cover your sins and be exceedingly merciful to you—so where will you run from Him?
➋ The answer to {قُلْ اِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهٗ فَلَا تَمْلِكُوْنَ لِيْ مِنَ اللّٰهِ شَيْـًٔا: ’’ اِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهٗ ‘‘} is omitted, which is understood from {’’ فَلَا تَمْلِكُوْنَ لِيْ ‘‘}: {’’أَيْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ عَاقَبَنِيَ اللّٰهُ عَلَي الْإِفْتِرَاءِ فَلَا تَمْلِكُوْنَ لِيْ مِنَ اللّٰهِ شَيْئًا ‘‘} "That is, say to them: If I have committed the crime of fabricating lies, then surely Allah will punish me for fabricating lies, and you will be of no help to me against Allah." In another place, Allah has said: « وَ لَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْاَقَاوِيْلِ (44) لَاَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِيْنِ (45) ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِيْنَ (46) فَمَا مِنْكُمْ مِّنْ اَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حٰجِزِيْنَ» [ الحاقۃ : ۴۴ تا ۴۷ ] "And if he had fabricated any sayings against Us, We would have seized him by the right hand, then We would have cut off his life artery, and none of you could have prevented Us from doing so."
➌ {هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيْضُوْنَ فِيْهِ … :} That is, when you have reached the point where you call this speech fabrication and human speech, while you have been unable to produce even the smallest surah like it, and it has become clear to everyone that it is not human speech, nor can any human produce such speech, then there is no benefit in arguing with you. I entrust my matter to Allah; He knows well the things you keep inventing—sometimes calling it magic, sometimes soothsaying, sometimes poetry, and sometimes a storm of lies fabricated against Allah. He alone is sufficient to decide between me and you, because He is aware of everything both of us say and is a witness to every occasion.
➍ { وَ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ:} The relevance of this sentence at this place is twofold: first, that your calling the Qur’an a fabrication and the Prophet a fabricator is such a great crime that if Allah were not Forgiving and Merciful, but rather a merciless and harsh master, He would not have given you even a moment’s respite. It is only His forgiveness and mercy that, despite such insolence, He does not seize you immediately, but gives you respite so that you may turn back at any time. The second relevance is this encouragement: even now, if you give up this stubbornness, Allah’s forgiveness and mercy await you, because He is both Forgiving and Merciful. There is no limit to His forgiveness or His mercy; whatever you have done, He will still forgive. {’’ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ ‘‘} is the predicate of the pronoun {’’ هُوَ ‘‘}, and with the definite article, exclusivity is created in the speech, meaning: only He is Forgiving and Merciful, and there is no one else who can cover your sins and be exceedingly merciful to you—so where will you run from Him?
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
8. 1 By "this truth" is meant the Quran which has come to them. Seeing its miraculous nature and power of influence, they call it magic. Then, turning away from even this, or if this claim does not suffice, they say that this is the self-invented speech of Muhammad ﷺ.
8. 2 That is, if your claim is correct that I am not a messenger appointed by Allah and this speech is my own invention, then surely I am a great criminal. Allah will not leave me unpunished for such a great lie, and if any such punishment occurs, then understand that I am a liar and do not help me, nor will you have any authority to save me from Allah's reckoning. The same subject has been stated elsewhere in this way: (وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْاَقَاوِيْلِ 44 ۙ لَاَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بالْيَمِيْنِ 45ۙ ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِيْنَ 46ڮ فَمَا مِنْكُمْ مِّنْ اَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حٰجِـزِيْنَ 47) 69. Al-Haqqah:44)
8. 3 That is, in whatever manner you deny the Quran—sometimes calling it magic, sometimes soothsaying, and sometimes fabricated—Allah knows it well, meaning He will recompense you for these reprehensible actions.
8. 4 He is sufficient as a witness that this Quran has been revealed from Him, and He is also a witness to your denial and opposition. In this too is a severe warning for them.
8. 5 For the one who repents, believes, and accepts the Quran as the true speech of Allah, the meaning is that there is still time—repent and become deserving of Allah's forgiveness and mercy.
8. 2 That is, if your claim is correct that I am not a messenger appointed by Allah and this speech is my own invention, then surely I am a great criminal. Allah will not leave me unpunished for such a great lie, and if any such punishment occurs, then understand that I am a liar and do not help me, nor will you have any authority to save me from Allah's reckoning. The same subject has been stated elsewhere in this way: (وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْاَقَاوِيْلِ 44 ۙ لَاَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بالْيَمِيْنِ 45ۙ ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِيْنَ 46ڮ فَمَا مِنْكُمْ مِّنْ اَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حٰجِـزِيْنَ 47) 69. Al-Haqqah:44)
8. 3 That is, in whatever manner you deny the Quran—sometimes calling it magic, sometimes soothsaying, and sometimes fabricated—Allah knows it well, meaning He will recompense you for these reprehensible actions.
8. 4 He is sufficient as a witness that this Quran has been revealed from Him, and He is also a witness to your denial and opposition. In this too is a severe warning for them.
8. 5 For the one who repents, believes, and accepts the Quran as the true speech of Allah, the meaning is that there is still time—repent and become deserving of Allah's forgiveness and mercy.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
8. Or they say, "He has fabricated it himself [9]." Say, "If I have fabricated it myself, you have no power to protect me from Allah (His grasp) in anything [10]. He knows best what you are engaged in concerning it. He is sufficient as a witness between me and you, and He is the All-Forgiving [11], the Most Merciful."
[9]
Self-Fabricated Speech or Magic?
That is, they themselves would contradict their previous statements. Because these two things are contradictory. If this Quran is magic, then it is not your own speech, and if it is your own fabricated speech, then it cannot be magic.
[10] That is, if I have myself composed this speech and attributed it to Allah, and have lied against Allah, then surely Allah will punish me for this fabrication. You will not be able to save me from it, nor do you have the power to do so. However, the deeds you are engaged in are certainly such that Allah can punish you for them, and He is watching all your actions. Therefore, you should be concerned about your own deeds and their consequences.
[11] There are two meanings to this sentence here. One is that Allah is watching all our deeds but does not punish, otherwise, if He were like merciless kings, people would have been destroyed long ago. It is His mercy that He tolerates and forgives all such things. The second meaning is that even now, if you give up your stubbornness, Allah, out of His grace, will forgive your sins.
[9]
Self-Fabricated Speech or Magic?
That is, they themselves would contradict their previous statements. Because these two things are contradictory. If this Quran is magic, then it is not your own speech, and if it is your own fabricated speech, then it cannot be magic.
[10] That is, if I have myself composed this speech and attributed it to Allah, and have lied against Allah, then surely Allah will punish me for this fabrication. You will not be able to save me from it, nor do you have the power to do so. However, the deeds you are engaged in are certainly such that Allah can punish you for them, and He is watching all your actions. Therefore, you should be concerned about your own deeds and their consequences.
[11] There are two meanings to this sentence here. One is that Allah is watching all our deeds but does not punish, otherwise, if He were like merciless kings, people would have been destroyed long ago. It is His mercy that He tolerates and forgives all such things. The second meaning is that even now, if you give up your stubbornness, Allah, out of His grace, will forgive your sins.
