14:10 prophets call & response by disbelievers

Here is Verse 14:10 from the Quran, its translation, and its Tafseer (explanation) from Tafheem-ul-Quran by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.

The verse is from Surah Ibrahim (Chapter 14), which was revealed in Mecca. The context is the dialogue between the Messengers of God and their disbelieving peoples.

1. The Arabic Verse (Quran 14:10)

قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِي اللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ۚ قَالُوا إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا فَأَتُونَا بِسُلْطَانٍ مُبِينٍ

2. Transliteration

Qālat Rusuluhum afīllāhi shakkun fāṭiris samāwāti wal-arḍi yadūkum liyaghfira lakum min dhunūbikum yu'akhkhirkum ilā ajalin musammā, qālū in antum illā basharum mithlunā turīdūna an taṣuddūnāammā kāna yabudu ābāunā fa`tūnā bisulṭānim mubīn.

3. English Translation (from Tafheem-ul-Qaan)

Their Messengers said: “Can there be any doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you that He may forgive you your sins and grant you respite till an appointed term.” They replied: “You are only a human being like ourselves. You seek to prevent us from serving those whom our forefathers have been serving. Bring us then a clear proof.”

4. Tafseer (Explanation) from Tafheem-ul-Quran by Maududi

This Tafseer explains the core arguments presented in the verse, breaking down the dialogue between the Messengers and their people.

The Argument of the Messengers (The Logic of Tawheed)

The Messengers counter the disbelief of their people with a powerful, logical argument:

  1. “Can there be any doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth?”
    • This is a rhetorical question meant to jolt the people into using their reason. The Messengers are pointing to the overwhelming evidence of Allah’s existence and power that is manifest in the entire universe. The intricate design, order, and majesty of the heavens and the earth are a clear testimony to the existence of one Supreme Creator. To doubt this is to reject the most obvious reality.
  2. “He invites you that He may forgive you your sins and grant you respite till an appointed term.”
    • The Messengers explain the purpose of Allah’s invitation (through them). It is not for Allah’s benefit but for their own:
      • Forgiveness of Sins: To purify them from the spiritual corruption of polytheism and wrongdoing, which are the root causes of societal decay.
      • Respite till an Appointed Term: To allow them a full and prosperous life on Earth until their naturally appointed time of death, instead of being destroyed for their disbelief.
    The argument is: Why would you reject the One who created you and offers you such mercy?

The Stubborn Reply of the Disbelievers (The Flawed Human Argument)

The people’s reply exposes the weakness of their position, which is based on tradition and a denial of Prophethood rather than logic:

  1. “You are only a human being like ourselves.”
    • This was a common objection against the Prophets. The disbelievers could not comprehend why God would choose a human being from among them as a Messenger. They expected angels or some spectacular being. This objection stems from arrogance and a misunderstanding of the role of a Prophet, who is sent as a practical example and guide for humanity.
  2. “You seek to prevent us from what our forefathers have been serving.”
    • This is the argument of blind following (Taqlid). They reject the new message not based on its merit but because it contradicts the inherited traditions of their ancestors. They prioritize ancestral practice over truth and evidence.
  3. “Bring us then a clear proof.”
    • This demand for a “clear proof” (Sultan Mubeen) is made in bad faith. They are not asking for logical proof, as the Messengers have already provided the ultimate proof—the existence of the Creator Himself. Instead, they are demanding a miraculous sign on their own terms, a spectacle to satisfy their whims. Their demand is a tactic to avoid accepting the truth that has already been made clear to them.

Summary of the Core Conflict

Maududi’s Tafseer highlights that this verse encapsulates the eternal conflict between Truth and Falsehood:

  • The People of Truth base their belief on reason, observation of the universe, and a sincere invitation to goodness and mercy.
  • The People of Falsehood base their rejection on arrogance, blind adherence to tradition, and unreasonable demands for proof, all while ignoring the overwhelming evidence already present before them.

This dialogue serves as a lesson for all times, showing that the excuses of disbelievers have essentially remained the same throughout history.

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