Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:23

The Message of Messenger of Allah is True Allah says;

وإن كنتم في ريب مما نزلنا على عبدنا فٲتوا بسورة من مثله وادعوا شهداءكم من دون الله إن كنتم صادقين

And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an) to Our servant (Muhammad), then produce a Surah of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful. Allah begins to prove the truth of Prophethood after He stated that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. Allah said to the disbelievers,

وإن كنتم في ريب مما نزلنا على عبدنا

(And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an) to Our servant) meaning, Muhammad,

فٲتوا بسورة

(then produce a Surah) meaning, similar to what he brought to you. Hence, if you claim that what he was sent with did not come from Allah, then produce something similar to what he has brought to you, using the help of anyone you wish instead of Allah. However, you will not be able to succeed in this quest. Ibn Abbas said that,

شهداءكم

(your witnesses), means "Aids.'' Also, As-Suddi reported that Abu Malik said the Ayah means, "Your partners, meaning, some other people to help you in that. Meaning then go and seek the help of your deities to support and aid you.'' Also, Mujahid said that,

وادعوا شهداءكم

(and call your witnesses) means, "People, meaning, wise and eloquent men who will provide the testimony that you seek.'' The Challenge Allah challenged the disbelievers in various parts of the Qur'an. For instance, Allah said in Surah Al-Qasas,

قل فٲتوا بكتب من عند الله هو أهدى منهما أتبعه إن كنتم صدقين

Say (to them, O Muhammad): "Then bring a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than these two (the Tawrah (Torah) and the Qur'an), that I may follow it, if you are truthful''. (28:49) Also, Allah said in Surah Al-Isra,

قل لين اجتمعت اﻻنس والجن على أن يٲتوا بمثل هذا القرءان ﻻ يٲتون بمثله ولو كان بعضهم لبعض ظهيرا

Say: "If mankind and the Jinn were together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another.'' (17:88) Allah said in Surah Hud,

أم يقولون افتراه قل فٲتوا بعشر سور مثله مفتريات وادعوا من استطعتم من دون الله إن كنتم صدقين

Or they say, "He (Prophet Muhammad) forged it (the Qur'an).'' Say: "Bring you then ten forged Surahs like it, and call whomsoever you can, other than Allah (to your help), if you speak the truth!'' (11:13) and in Surah Yunus,

وما كان هذا القرءان أن يفترى من دون الله ولكن تصديق الذى بين يديه وتفصيل الكتاب ﻻ ريب فيه من رب العلمين

أم يقولون افتراه قل فٲتوا بسورة مثله وادعوا من استطعتم من دون الله إن كنتم صدقين

And this Qur'an is not such as could ever be produced by other than Allah (Lord of the heavens and the earth), but it is a confirmation of (the revelation) which was before it (i.e. the Tawrah, and the Injil), and a full explanation of the Book (i.e. Laws decreed for mankind) ـ wherein there is no doubt ـ from the Lord of all that exists. Or do they say: "He (Muhammad) has forged it!'' Say: "Bring then a Surah like it, and call upon whomsoever you can besides Allah, if you are truthful!'' (10:37-38) All of these Ayat were revealed in Makkah. Allah also challenged the disbelievers in the Ayat that were revealed in Al-Madinah. In this Ayah, Allah said,

وإن كنتم في ريب

(And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in Rayb) meaning, doubt

مما نزلنا على عبدنا

(Concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an) to Our servant) meaning, Muhammad,

فٲتوا بسورة من مثله

(then produce a Surah (chapter) the like thereof) meaning, similar to the Qur'an. This is the Tafsir of Mujahid, Qatadah, Ibn Jarir At-Tabari, Az-Zamakhshari and Ar-Razi. Ar-Razi said that this is the Tafsir of Umar, Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn Abbas, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and the majority of the scholars. And he gave preference to this view and mentioned the fact that Allah has challenged the disbelievers as individuals and as groups, whether literate or illiterate, thus making the challenge truly complete. This type of challenge is more daring than simply challenging the disbelievers who might not be literate or knowledgeable. This is why Allah said,

فٲتوا بعشر سور مثله

Bring you then ten forged Surahs like it) (11:13) and,

ﻻ يٲتون بمثله

They could not produce the like thereof. (17:88) Therefore, this is a general challenge to the Arab disbelievers, the most eloquent among all nations. Allah challenged the Arab disbelievers both in Makkah and Al-Madinah several times, especially since they had tremendous hatred and enmity for the Prophet and his religion. Yet, they were unable to succeed in answering the challenge, and this is why Allah said,