سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 23
وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿23﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur’ân) to Our slave (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), then produce a Sûrah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allâh, if you are truthful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
فِى
fī
in
رَيْبٍۢ
raybin
doubt
مِّمَّا
mimmā
about what
نَزَّلْنَا
nazzalnā
We have revealed
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
to
عَبْدِنَا
ʿabdinā
Our slave
فَأْتُوا۟
fatū
then produce
بِسُورَةٍۢ
bisūratin
a chapter
مِّن
min
[of]
مِّثْلِهِۦ
mith'lihi
like it
وَٱدْعُوا۟
wa-id'ʿū
and call
شُهَدَآءَكُم
shuhadāakum
your witnesses
مِّن
min
from
دُونِ
dūni
other than
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
صَـٰدِقِينَ
ṣādiqīna
truthful
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 23) ➊ At the beginning of the surah, Allah Almighty declared this book as { ”لَا رَيْبَ فِيْهِ“ }, and now it is said that (there is no doubt in this book, but) if you are in even the slightest doubt about it, then bring a surah like it. This challenge was first made to bring a book like this book. [ بنی إسرائیل : ۸۸ ] Then the challenge was to bring ten surahs like it. [ ہود : ۱۳ ] Then, in Makkah itself, the challenge was made to bring one surah like it. [ یونس : ۳۸ ] Now, in Madinah, this challenge is being repeated, because Surah Al-Baqarah is Madinan.
➋ In the previous two verses, there is a refutation of shirk and an invitation to tawheed; in these verses, there is an invitation to believe in the messengership of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
➌ { عَبْدِنَا:} Although all servants are servants of Allah Almighty, by “Our servant” is meant our special servant, just as: “Baytullah” and “Naqatullah.” This is called idafah tashrif (honorific attribution).
➍ In every era, whatever thing had reached perfection, the prophet of that era was given such a miracle before which human perfection was helpless and powerless, such as the magicians of Pharaoh and the staff of Musa, and the skilled physicians of the time of Isa (peace be upon him) and Isa (peace be upon him) bringing the dead to life. In the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the Arabs took pride in their eloquence and rhetoric, so Allah Almighty granted His Prophet such a miracle that, even after hundreds of years, no one has been able to present the like of even its smallest surah, nor will they ever be able to. For details, see Surah Al-Ankabut (47 to 51).
➋ In the previous two verses, there is a refutation of shirk and an invitation to tawheed; in these verses, there is an invitation to believe in the messengership of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
➌ { عَبْدِنَا:} Although all servants are servants of Allah Almighty, by “Our servant” is meant our special servant, just as: “Baytullah” and “Naqatullah.” This is called idafah tashrif (honorific attribution).
➍ In every era, whatever thing had reached perfection, the prophet of that era was given such a miracle before which human perfection was helpless and powerless, such as the magicians of Pharaoh and the staff of Musa, and the skilled physicians of the time of Isa (peace be upon him) and Isa (peace be upon him) bringing the dead to life. In the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the Arabs took pride in their eloquence and rhetoric, so Allah Almighty granted His Prophet such a miracle that, even after hundreds of years, no one has been able to present the like of even its smallest surah, nor will they ever be able to. For details, see Surah Al-Ankabut (47 to 51).
