Surah Yunus Ayah 1

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْحَكِيمِ - أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ النَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ قَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَاحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ

(1. Alif-Lam-Ra. These are the verses of the Book (the Qur'an) Al-Hakim.)(2. Is it a wonder for mankind that We have sent Our revelation to a man from among themselves (saying): "Warn mankind, and give good news to those who believe that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds?" (But) the disbelievers say: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!")

The isolated letters in the beginning of this Surah, as well as in others, have been previously discussed at the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah. Allah said:

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْحَكِيمِ

(These are the verses of the Book (the Qur'an) Al-Hakim.) This indicates that these are verses of the Qur'an, in which the wisdom of judgment is clear.

The Messenger (ﷺ) cannot be but a Human Being

Allah rebukes the attitude of the disbelievers with the words

أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا

(Is it a wonder for mankind...)

They have always found it strange that Allah would send Messengers to them from among mankind. Allah also tells us about other people from previous nations who said,

أَبَشَرٌ يَهْدُونَنَا

(Shall mere men guide us?)(64:6)

Hud and Salih said to their people:

أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَاءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ

(Do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you)(7:63)

Allah also told us what the disbelievers from Quraysh said:

أَجَعَلَ الْآلِهَةَ إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عُجَابٌ

(Has he made the gods into one God? Verily, this is a curious thing!)(38:5)

Ad-Dahhak reported Ibn 'Abbas that he said: "When Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ as a Messenger, most of the Arabs denied him and his message and said: Allah is greater than sending a human Messenger like Muhammad. " Ibn 'Abbas said, "So Allah revealed:

أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا

(Is it a wonder for mankind...)" Allah's statement;

أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ

(that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds)

Scholars have differed over the meaning of the reward for the good deeds in this Ayah:

وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ

(and give good news to those who believe that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds.)

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas said about this Ayah, "Eternal happiness has been written for them." Al-'Awfi reported that Ibn 'Abbas said: "It is the good reward for what they have done." Mujahid said: "It is their good deeds – their prayers, fasting, charity, and glorification." He then said, "And Muhammad ﷺ will intercede for them." Allah said:

قَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَاحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ

((But) the disbelievers say: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!")

This means that the disbelievers said this although Allah has sent a Messenger from among themselves to them, a man of their own race as a bearer of good news and as a warner. But they are the liars in saying that.