Al-Israa 17:73 · The Night Journey · Arabic, translation, recitation

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"[Prophet], the disbelievers tried to tempt you away from what We revealed to you, so that you would invent some other revelation and attribute it to Us and then they would have taken you as a friend."

Pickthall (classic)+

"And they indeed strove hard to beguile thee (Muhammad) away from that wherewith We have inspired thee, that thou shouldst invent other than it against Us; and then would they have accepted thee as a friend."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"And their purpose was to tempt thee away from that which We had revealed unto thee, to substitute in our name something quite different; (in that case), behold! they would certainly have made thee (their) friend!"

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

How the Prophet would have been punished if He had given in at all to the Disbelievers' Demands that He change some of the Revelation

Allah tells us how He supported His Prophet and protected him and kept him safe from the evil plots of the wicked transgressors. Allah is the One Who took care of him and helped him, and would not leave him to any of His creation. He is the One Who is His Helper, Supporter and Protector, the One Who is to help him achieve victory and make His religion prevail over those who resist him and oppose him and fight him in the east and in the west. May Allah send peace and blessings upon him until the Day of Judgement.

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

Всевышний поведал о Своей милости по отношению к Пророку Мухаммаду, да благословит его Аллах и приветствует. Аллах уберег его от врагов, которые пытались любыми способами отвратить его от прямого пути. Они желали, чтобы Пророк, да благословит его Аллах и приветствует, говорил об Аллахе то, чего не было в ниспосланном ему откровении. Они хотели услышать от него то, что совпадало с их низменными желаниями. Они хотели, чтобы он отрекся от того, что ниспослал Аллах. Однако они не добились желаемого. Но если бы посланник Аллаха, да благословит его Аллах и приветствует, сделал то, что они требовали от него, то они признали бы его своим близким другом и избранником. Они возлюбили бы его сильнее, чем своих сородичей, потому что Аллах наделил его превосходным нравом и замечательными качествами, которые вызывали восхищение у близких родственников и незнакомых людей, друзей и неприятелей. И следует знать, что многобожники враждовали с Пророком, да благословит его Аллах и приветствует, и противились ему не потому, что они испытывали отвращение к нему самому, а потому, что они ненавидели проповедуемую им истину. Вот почему Всевышний сказал: «Мы знаем, что тебя печалит то, что они говорят. Они не считают лжецом тебя - беззаконники отвергают знамения Аллаха!» (6:33).

Commentary

Out of the verses appearing above, the first three relate to a particular event. To determine it precisely, Tafsir Mazhari carries some relevant reports. The event which is closer and more supportive in terms of the indicators set in the Qur'an is what has been reported by Ibn Abi Hatim as based on a narrative of Sayyidna Jubayr ibn Nufayr. According to this report, some chiefs of the Quraysh of Makkah came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and said: 'If you have been really sent to us, you should remove these poor and broken down people from around you, for sitting with such people is a matter of insult for us. If you do that, we too will become your companions and friends.' When they said this, the Holy Prophet ﷺ somewhat leaned towards the idea that he might do someth-ing like that as suggested by them in the hope that they may, perhaps, become Muslims. Thereupon, this verse was revealed.

Through this verse, the Holy Prophet ﷺ was sounded that their suggestion was a fitnah and the friendship they were talking about was also a fitnah (a trial or test or a ruse to tempt him into creating discord in his ranks). Therefore, he should not accept it. After that, the text says: Had your Lord not been particular about your grooming and fortitude, it was not too far out that you could have come somewhat closer to tilting towards their proposal.

From this verse, says Tafsir Mazhari, it is clearly understood that there was just no probability of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ever tilting towards such absurd demands from the Quraysh disbelievers. Yes, coming close to tilting, and that too within a very insignificant limit, was probable. But, by making him ma` sum (protected, infallible), Allah Ta’ ala saved him from drifting even to that limit. If we were to think about it, this verse provides a great proof of the highest moral disposition with which all prophets (علیہم السلام) were blessed. So, had there been even no shield of prophetic infallibility, still such was the natural disposition of the Prophet of Islam that tilting towards the absurd proposal of disbelievers would have never been possible for him. However, there did exist the probability of his coming somewhat closer, in an insignificant measure, towards the act of tilting - something terminated by the prophetic infallibility.