Ibrahim 14:9 · Abraham · Arabic, translation, recitation

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"Have you not heard about those who went before you, the people of Noah, Ad, Thamud, and those who lived after them, known only to God? Their messengers came to them with clear proof, but they tried to silence them, saying, ‘We do not believe the message with which you were sent. We have disturbing doubts about what you are asking us to do.’"

Pickthall (classic)+

"Hath not the history of those before you reached you: the folk of Noah, and (the tribes of) A'ad and Thamud, and those after them? None save Allah knoweth them. Their messengers came unto them with clear proofs, but they thrust their hands into their mouths, and said: Lo! we disbelieve in that wherewith ye have been sent, and lo! we are in grave doubt concerning that to which ye call us."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"Has not the story reached you, (O people!), of those who (went) before you? - of the people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud? - And of those who (came) after them? None knows them but Allah. To them came messengers with Clear (Signs); but they put their hands up to their mouths, and said: "We do deny (the mission) on which ye have been sent, and we are really in suspicious (disquieting) doubt as to that to which ye invite us.""

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

Earlier Nations disbelieved in Their Prophets

Allah narrated to this Ummah (followers of Muhammad ) the stories of the people of Prophet Nuh, `Ad and Thamud, and other ancient nations that belied their Messengers. Only Allah knows the count of these nations,

جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ

(To them came their Messengers with clear proofs,) they brought them evidences and plain, tremendous proofs and signs. Ibn Ishaq reported that `Amr bin Maymun said that `Abdullah said about Allah's statement,

لاَ يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ

(None knows them but Allah.) "The genealogists utter lies." This is why `Urwah bin Az-Zubayr said, "We did not find anyone who knows the forefathers of Ma`dd bin `Adnan."

Meaning of, "They put Their Hands in Their Mouths

Allah said next,

فَرَدُّواْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِى أَفْوَاهِهِمْ

(but they put their hands in their mouths) It is said that they pointed to the Messengers' mouths asking them to stop calling them to Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored. It is also said that it means, they placed their hands on their mouths in denial of the Messengers. It was also said that it means that they did not answer the call of the Messengers, or they were biting their hands in rage. Mujahid, Muhammad bin Ka`b and Qatadah said that they belied the Messengers and refuted their call with their mouths. I (Ibn Kathir) say that Mujahid's Tafsir is supported by the completion of the narrative,

وَقَالُواْ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ وَإِنَّا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَنَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ

(and said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and we are really in grave doubt as to that to which you invite us.") Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "When they heard Allah's Word, they were amazed and placed their hands on their mouths,"

وَقَالُواْ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ

(and said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent.") They said, We do not believe what you brought us, and have strong doubt in its authenticity. '

Tafsir Saʿdi

Всевышний устрашил Своих рабов вестью о том, что произошло с древними народами, когда они отвергли явившихся к ним Божьих посланников. Лютая кара постигла их уже в мирской жизни, и многие люди были свидетелями этого или слышали об этом. Народ Нуха, адиты и самудяне - Всевышний Аллах подробно рассказал истории об этих народах в Своем писании. И сколько других народов жило после них! Люди предали их забвению, и только Аллаху доподлинно известно о них. К ним приходили Божьи посланники, которые подтверждали свою правдивость и искренность удивительными чудесами и знамениями. Не было такого посланника, который не показал бы своим соплеменникам знамения, которых было достаточно для того, чтобы люди поверили ему. Однако всякий раз нечестивцы отказывались повиноваться Божьим посланникам и надменно отвергали Божьи знамения. Они отказывались уверовать и не желали даже говорить о том, что свидетельствовало о необходимости правой веры. По этому поводу Всевышний сказал: «Или же они подобны тем, кто оказался под ливнем с неба. Он несет мрак, гром и молнию. Они же в смертельном страхе затыкают уши пальцами от грохота молний. Воистину, Аллах объемлет неверующих» (2:19).