Tafsir of Saba' 34:49

Surah Saba' (34): Verse 49

[When God mentioned that He casts forth the Truth (as a future action)], He then mentioned that this Truth has indeed come.

There are several interpretations regarding what is meant by "The Truth has come" (جاء الحق):

1. It refers to the Qur'an.
2. It refers to the clarification of Monotheism (Tawhid), the Resurrection, and everything that was revealed through the tongue of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
3. It refers to the miracles that indicate the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him).

It is also possible that what is meant by "The Truth has come" (جاء الحق) is that the Truth has appeared (ظهر الحق), because everything that comes has appeared.

The opposite of Truth (الحق) is Falsehood (الباطل). We have previously established that Truth is that which exists. Since what the Prophet (PBUH) brought—such as Monotheism, Prophethood, and Resurrection—cannot be negated, it is a Truth that cannot cease to be. Conversely, what they [the disbelievers] bring—such as polytheism and denial—cannot truly exist, so it is Falsehood that cannot be established.

This meaning is understood from His statement: "And Falsehood originates nothing" (وما يبدىء الباطل). This means Falsehood achieves nothing, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter; thus, it has no possibility of existence in the first place. The Truth that was brought has no non-existence whatsoever.

It is also said that the meaning is: Satan neither originates nor repeats (لا يبدىء الشيطان ولا يعيد).

There is a subtle point here related to His statement: "Say, 'My Lord casts down the Truth'" (قل إن ربى يقذف بالحق). Since this implies His statement: "Nay, We cast the Truth upon Falsehood, and it shatters it" (بل نقذف بالحق على الباطل فيدمغه), one might mistakenly assume that Falsehood existed first, and then the Truth came and nullified and shattered it.

Therefore, here it is stated: "And Falsehood originates nothing, nor does it repeat" (وما يبدىء الباطل ولا يعيد). This means Falsehood does not establish anything contrary to the Truth in the beginning, nor does it bring back anything contrary to the Truth in the Hereafter.

This is similar to His statement elsewhere: "And say, 'The Truth has come, and Falsehood has vanished. Indeed, Falsehood is ever vanishing'" (وزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا). This means the vanishing of Falsehood is not a newly occurring event; Falsehood was destined to vanish from the start. Thus, "And Falsehood originates nothing" means it establishes nothing in the beginning contrary to the Truth, "nor does it repeat" means it brings nothing back in the Hereafter contrary to the Truth.

Say, "If I have gone astray, then I have only gone astray to the detriment of myself; but if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Near."