وَلَمّا جاءَهُمُ الحَقُّ قالوا هٰذا سِحرٌ وَإِنّا بِهِ كافِرونَ
But when the truth came to them, they said: ‘This is magic, and we indeed disbelieve in it.’
EXPOSITION
If the truth mentioned here refers to the Quran, as indicated in the previous verse, this verse sheds light on the response of the polytheists upon encountering revelation. In line with verse 20, the polytheists seemed to lack any logical counterargument against the message brought by Prophet Muhammad (s). Consequently, they resorted to claiming that the Quran was merely a form of magic, thereby attempting to dismiss its divine origin.
By rejecting the truth embodied in the Quran, the polytheists indirectly cast aspersions on the character of the Prophet. This connection between the rejection of the Quran and subsequently despising the Prophet, sets the stage for the following verse, which delves into the specific accusations made by the polytheists to express their contempt for God’s Messenger.
Rather than acknowledging the divine origin of the Quran, the polytheists emphatically declared their disbelief.
The polytheists did not wake up from their slumber, but instead emphatically stated that they disbelieve in the Quran. In this context, their disbelief should not be viewed as merely a passive refusal to accept the Quran as a revelation from God; instead, their rejection was active and obstinate, as they deliberately chose to deny the Quran’s divine origin despite being aware of its true nature. This form of wilful rejection is referred to as juḥūd. In other words, not only were they committing polytheism, but through such a response they opposed and rebelled against the truth whilst belittling it.
It is worth considering what might have led the polytheists to assert that the Quran was a form of magic. One potential explanation could be the powerful allure of the Quran’s message, which seemed to draw people towards it almost magnetically. The polytheists may have perceived this captivating quality as an inexplicable, otherworldly force – akin to magic – as they witnessed the Quran’s profound impact on its audience and the gradual growth of its influence.
Some exegetes interpret this verse as showcasing two distinct responses from the polytheists, presented in a manner of escalation. Initially, they dismissed the Quran as mere magic, deeming it unworthy of their attention. However, their reactions intensified, as they went a step further by declaring their outright disbelief in the Quran, regardless of whether or not it was truly magic. This shift in their stance is emphasised by the use of a particle of emphasis, indicating their determination to persist in their disbelief, irrespective of any evidence to the contrary.
REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE
It has been reported that this verse was revealed in reference to a statement made by Sufyān ibn Ḥarb, Abū Jahl, and ʿUtbah and Shaybah.
Some have interpreted the truth to be a reference to the religion of Islam, the Quran, as well as the miracles of the Holy Prophet.
Certain exegetes propose an alternative reading of the verse, arguing that when the polytheists exclaimed This is magic, they were not actually referring to the Quran itself, but rather they were accusing the Prophet of being a magician. According to this interpretation, the polytheists’ assertion of disbelief would then be understood as a direct repudiation of the Prophet’s role as a divine messenger, rather than a rejection of the Quran as a source of revelation. Other verses of the Quran clearly describe the polytheists alleging that the Prophet was a magician (10:2, 11:7, 34:43, 37:15, 38:4, 46:7, 51:52, 54:2, 74:24). Similar claims were also imputed against Prophet Moses (a) (7:109, 10:76, 20:57, 20:63, 26:34, 27:13, 28:36, 40:24, 51:39) and Prophet Jesus (a) (5:110, 61:6).
[1] Mizan, 18/144.
[2] Tibyan, 9/194; Tabari, 25/39.
[3] Safi, 4/388; Zamakhshari, 4/247.
[4] Fadlallah, 20/232.
[5] Ibn Ashur, 25/243.
[6] Muqatil, 3/793.
[7] Atyab, 12/24.
[8] Ibn Ashur, 25/243.