An-Nahl 16:103 · The Bee · Arabic, translation, recitation

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"We know very well that they say, ‘It is a man who teaches him,’ but the language of the person they allude to is foreign, while this revelation is in clear Arabic."

Pickthall (classic)+

"And We know well that they say: Only a man teacheth him. The speech of him at whom they falsely hint is outlandish, and this is clear Arabic speech."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

The Idolators' Claim that the Qur'an was taught by a Human, and the Refutation of their Claim

Allah tells us about the idolators' lies, allegations, and slander when they claimed that this Qur'an which Muhammad had recited for them, was actually taught to him by a human. They referred to a foreign (i.e., non-Arab) man who lived among them as the servant of some of the clans of Quraysh and who used to sell goods by As-Safa. Maybe the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to sit with him sometimes and talk to him a little, but he was a foreigner who did not know much Arabic, only enough simple phrases to answer questions when he had to. So in refutation of their claims of fabrication, Allah said:

لِّسَانُ الَّذِى يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِىٌّ وَهَـذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِىٌّ مُّبِينٌ

(The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this (the Qur'an) is a (in) clear Arabic tongue.) meaning, how could it be that this Qur'an with its eloquent style and perfect meanings, which is more perfect than any Book revealed to any previously sent Prophet, have been learnt from a foreigner who hardly speaks the language No one with the slightest amount of common sense would say such a thing.

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

Всевышний поведал о том, что многобожники отказываются уверовать в Пророка Мухаммада, да благословит его Аллах и приветствует, ссылаясь на то, что он обучился своему писанию от людей. Люди, которых они считали наставниками Пророка Мухаммада, да благословит его Аллах и приветствует, были иноземцами и не говорили на арабском языке, тогда как Священный Коран ниспослан на ясном арабском языке. Являются ли их предположения правдоподобными? Стоит ли вообще делать такие предположения? Конечно же, нет. Но когда лжецы собираются оболгать истину, они не думают о том, к чему может привести ложь. И все заканчивается тем, что их заявления оказываются настолько противоречивыми и порочными, что простое размышление над ними обязывает человека отвергнуть их.