سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 24
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۙ قَالُوٓا۟ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿24﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when it is said to them: "What is it that your Lord has sent down (unto Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم)?" They say: "Tales of the men of old!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
قِيلَ
qīla
it is said
لَهُم
lahum
to them
مَّاذَآ
mādhā
What
أَنزَلَ
anzala
has your Lord sent down
رَبُّكُمْ ۙ
rabbukum
has your Lord sent down
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They say
أَسَـٰطِيرُ
asāṭīru
Tales
ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
l-awalīna
(of) the ancient
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.
24. And when they are asked, "What has your Lord revealed?" they say, "Nothing but tales of the ancients [24]."
[24]
The Quran Contains Only Stories of the Ancients:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his message became known beyond the boundaries of Makkah and spread to the surrounding areas, the disbelievers of Makkah, wherever they went, and people asked them what the Prophet who has arisen among you teaches and what he calls to, these people would respond with great indifference and carelessness that he merely tells stories and tales of the ancients. There is nothing new or useful in them, and we have already heard such things many times before.
[24]
The Quran Contains Only Stories of the Ancients:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his message became known beyond the boundaries of Makkah and spread to the surrounding areas, the disbelievers of Makkah, wherever they went, and people asked them what the Prophet who has arisen among you teaches and what he calls to, these people would respond with great indifference and carelessness that he merely tells stories and tales of the ancients. There is nothing new or useful in them, and we have already heard such things many times before.
