Ibrahim 14:10

"Their messengers said, "Can there be doubt about Allāh, Creator of the heavens and earth? He invites you that He may forgive you of your sins, and He delays you [i.e., your death] for a specified term." They said, "You are not but men like us who wish to avert us from what our fathers were worshipping. So bring us a clear authority [i.e., evidence].""

The Argument between the Prophets and the Disbelievers

Allah narrates to us the arguments that ensued between the disbelievers and their Messengers. When their nations doubted the Message of worshipping Allah alone without partners, the Messengers said,

أَفِى اللَّهِ شَكٌّ

((What!) Can there be a doubt about Allah...) about His Lordship and having the exclusive right to be worshipped alone, being the only Creator of all creatures Verily, none besides Allah is worthy of worship, alone without partners with Him. Most nations were, and still are, affirming the existence of the Creator, but they call upon intermediaries besides Him whom they think will benefit them or bring them closer to Allah. Their Messengers said to them,

يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُمْ مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ

(He calls you that He may forgive you of your sins) in the Hereafter,

وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى

(and give you respite for a term appointed.), in this worldly life. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُمْ مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ

(Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding grace to every owner of grace.) 10:3 However, their nations went on arguing against their prophethood, after they had to submit to the first evidence (that Allah Alone created everything).

Disbelievers reject Prophethood because the Messengers were Humans!

Their nations said,

إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا

(You are no more than human beings like us!) so why should we follow you just because you say so, even though we did not witness a miracle by your hands,

فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَـنٍ مُّبِينٍ

(Then bring us a clear authority.), a miracle of our choice.

قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ

(Their Messengers said to them: "We are no more than human beings like you...") affirming that truly, they were only human being like their nations,

وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَى مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ

(but Allah bestows His grace to whom He wills of His servants.), with prophethood and messengership which is His choice,

وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُمْ بِسُلْطَـنٍ

(It is not ours to bring you an authority) according to your choice,

إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ

((except by the permission of Allah. ), after we beg Him and He provides us with a miracle,

وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

(And in Allah (alone) let the believers put their trust.) in all their affairs. Their Messengers said to them next,

وَمَا لَنَآ أَلاَّ نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللَّهِ

(And why should we not put our trust in Allah), after He had guided us to the best, most clear and plain way,

وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَى مَآ آذَيْتُمُونَا

(And we shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us), such as foolish actions and abusive statements,

وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

(and in Allah (alone) let those who trust, put their trust.)

Они не скрывали от посланников своего неверия и заявляли, что сомневаются в их правдивости. Однако они лгали и поступали несправедливо. Как можно сомневаться в Аллахе? На свете нет ничего более ясного и убедительного! Если человек станет сомневаться в Творце небес и земли, без Которого невозможно существование Вселенной, то он должен сомневаться в существовании даже того, что можно увидеть и пощупать. И поэтому посланники говорили со своими народами так, как следует разговаривать с теми, кто не испытывает никакого сомнения в существовании Господа. Они призывали их к тому, что может принести им пользу, дабы Аллах простил им грехи и продлил им жизнь до определенного срока. Одним словом, если бы они ответили на призыв посланников, то получили бы вознаграждение как при жизни на земле, так и после смерти, поскольку своим поклонением они не могли принести пользу Аллаху. Напротив, пользу от этого могли получить только они. Однако они отвергли проповеди своих посланников и поступили, как глупые и невежественные люди. Они сказали: «Вы - такие же люди, как и мы. Почему вы должны превосходить нас благодаря своей пророческой миссии? Вы выдумали это для того, чтобы мы перестали поклоняться тому, чему поклонялись наши предки. Почему мы должны отказываться от дороги наших прародителей ради ваших измышлений? Почему мы должны беспрекословно подчиняться тем, кто ничуть не превосходит нас? Покажите нам знамение, которое бы свидетельствовало о вашей правдивости». Они требовали от посланников чудес, которые не полагается видеть людям, поскольку каждый посланник показывал своим соплеменникам ясные знамения.

In the last verse here (8), it was said: قَالَ مُوسَىٰ إِن تَكْفُرُ‌وا أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ جَمِيعًا (And Musa said, "If you are ungrateful, you and all those on earth, then, Allah is free of all needs, worthy of every praise.) " This was said by Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) to his people. He is telling them that should they or, for that matter, all inhabitants of the earth become ungrateful to Allah Ta’ ala, it is not going to cause any loss to Allah Ta’ ala. As for Him, He needs no praise or gratitude for Himself. He is Independent. He is beyond that. He is intrinsically Praised and deserving of praise. If you do not praise Him, the angels do, all of them, and so does every particle of this universe.

So, whatever good there is in gratitude, that is for you alone. There-fore, when you are asked to be grateful by Allah Ta’ ala, there is no gain for Him in doing so. In fact, it is His infinite mercy reaching out to you in your interest.

Other English translations

Tafsīr · classical commentary

The Argument between the Prophets and the Disbelievers

Disbelievers reject Prophethood because the Messengers were Humans!