Surah 43:23
Show Full Scripture Context (43:21-25) — 5 Verses
أَمۡ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ كِتَٰبٗا مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦ فَهُم بِهِۦ مُسۡتَمۡسِكُونَ
Or have We given them a Book before it, and do they hold fast to it?
بَلۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٖ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم مُّهۡتَدُونَ
No! They say, ‘Surely we found our fathers (set) on a community, and surely we are guided in their footsteps.’
وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ فِي قَرۡيَةٖ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٖ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم مُّقۡتَدُونَ
In this way We have not sent any warner before you to a town, except that its affluent ones said, ‘Surely we found our fathers (set) on a community, and surely we are following in their footsteps.’
۞قَٰلَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكُم بِأَهۡدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدتُّمۡ عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَكُمۡۖ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ
He said, ‘Even if I bring you better guidance than what you found your fathers (set) on?’ They said, ‘Surely we are disbelievers in what you are sent with.’
فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡۖ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ
So We took vengeance on them. See how the end was for the ones who called (it) a lie!
Allah condemns the idolaters for worshipping others instead of Allah with no evidence or proof for doing so.
{Or have We given them any Book before this} means, before their idolatry.
{to which they are holding fast?} means, with regard to what they are doing. This is not the case. This is like the Ayah:
Then He says:
{Say} - 'O Muhammad, to these idolators'
'Even if they were convinced of the truth of what you have brought to them, they will not follow it, because of their evil intentions and their arrogance towards the truth and its people.'
{So We took revenge on them} means, on the disbelieving nations, by inflicting various kinds of punishments, as Allah has described in the stories of those nations.
{then see what was the end of those who denied} means, see what became of them, how they were destroyed and how Allah saved the believers.
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 8, Page 629-630)