Al-Baqarah: (118) And those who do not...

This is the eleventh category of the reprehensible actions of the Jews, Christians, and polytheists. It contains several issues:

The First Issue:

When Allah, the Exalted, recounted what impugns Tawhid (monotheism)—namely, that they claimed Allah took a son—He now recounts what impugns Prophethood.

Most commentators state that these people are the polytheists of Arabia. The evidence for this is His saying:

"And they say, 'We will never believe you until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us.'" (Al-Isra: 90) And: "Rather, they say, 'Muddled dreams,' or 'He has invented it.'" (Al-Anbiya: 5) And: "Why are not angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord?" (Al-Furqan: 21)

This is the view of most commentators. However, it is established that the People of the Book also made such requests. The evidence is His saying:

"The People of the Book ask you to send down to them a book from the sky. Indeed, they asked of Moses something greater than that..." (An-Nisa: 153)

If one asks: The evidence that the intended group is the polytheists of Arabia is that Allah described them as "those who do not know" (لا يعلمون), whereas the People of the Book are people of knowledge. We reply: What is meant is that they do not know Tawhid and Prophethood as they ought to be known, and the People of the Book were also like that in this regard.

The Second Issue:

This addresses the doubt they relied upon: that when a Wise Being intends to achieve something, He must choose the closest path leading to it, the one furthest from doubt and suspicion.

If this premise is established, we say: Allah speaks to the angels and spoke to Moses. You [O Muhammad] claim that He speaks to you, evidenced by His saying:

"So He revealed to His servant what He revealed." (An-Najm: 10)

Why does He not speak to us directly (mushafahah) and explicitly state your prophethood so that belief is confirmed and doubt is removed? Furthermore, if Allah does not do this, why does He not single you out with a specific sign or miracle?

This is an attack on the Quran being a sign and a miracle. If they admitted the Quran was a miracle, it would be impossible for them to say, "Why does he not bring us a sign?"

Indeed, Allah answered this doubt by saying:

"Thus said those before them, like their saying. Their hearts have become alike. We have certainly made the signs clear for a people who are certain."

The essence of this answer is that We have already supported the saying of Muhammad (peace be upon him) with miracles, and We have clarified the truth of his statement through the signs, which are the Quran and other miracles. Therefore, demanding these additions is a form of obstinacy, and since it is so, answering them is not obligatory for several reasons:

1. Sufficiency of Evidence: If one piece of evidence is established, the accountable person has the means to reach the desired conclusion. If their goal were seeking the truth, that single piece of evidence would suffice. Since they are not satisfied with it and demand more, we know their demand stems from stubbornness and contention, so answering it is not required. This is analogous to His saying:

   "And those who disbelieve say, 'Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?' Say, 'The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner.' And is it not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book which is recited to them?" (Al-Ankabut: 50-51) He rebukes them with the sufficient proof contained within the Quran.

2. Divine Foreknowledge: If it were known to Allah that they would believe upon the revelation of that specific sign, He would have done it. However, He knew that if He gave them what they asked for, they would only become more obstinate. Therefore, He did not do it, as stated:

   "And if Allah had known any good in them, He would have made them hear. And if He had made them hear, they would have turned away while they were turning aside." (Al-Anfal: 23)

3. Potential Harm of Signs: The revelation of those signs might involve types of harm, perhaps leading to their destruction and annihilation if they persisted in disbelief afterward. Some might reach a level of compulsion that negates accountability. Furthermore, their abundance and succession could undermine their status as miracles, because when extraordinary events follow one another, the breaking of the norm becomes the norm, thus ceasing to be a miracle. All these matters are known only to Allah, the Knower of the Unseen. Thus, it is established that withholding these signs does not impugn Prophethood.

Regarding His saying: {Their hearts have become alike}

This means that the sayings and actions of those who deny the Messengers resemble one another. Just as the people of Moses were constantly obstinate and demanded falsehoods—such as saying:

"We will never endure one kind of food." (Al-Baqarah: 61) And: "Make for us a god like theirs." (Al-A'raf: 138) And: "Do you take us in ridicule?" (Al-Baqarah: 67) And: "Show us Allah clearly." (An-Nisa: 153)

So too are these polytheists constantly engaged in obstinacy, contention, and demanding falsehood.

Regarding His saying: {We have certainly made the signs clear for a people who are certain}

This means that the Quran and other miracles—such as the tree coming, the wolf speaking, and feeding a large crowd with little food—are overwhelming signs and brilliant miracles for anyone who seeks certainty.

7 < {Indeed, We have sent you with the truth, a bearer of good tidings and a warner. And you will not be asked about the companions of Hellfire.} > 7