Tafsir of Saba' 34:8

Surah Saba' (34): Verse 8

{أَفْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَم بِهِ جِنَّةٌ} (Has he invented a lie against Allah, or is he mad?)

This verse can be interpreted in two ways:

1. Continuation of the Deniers' Speech: It could be the conclusion of what the disbelievers initially said when they asked, "Shall we guide you to a man...?"

2. Response from the Listener: It could be the response of someone listening to the one who asked, "Shall we guide you to a man...?" As if the listener, upon hearing the questioner suggest the Prophet (PBUH) was a mere man, replied: "Does he invent a lie against Allah? If he truly believes otherwise, then he is a liar. Or is he possessed (mad)? If he does not believe otherwise, then he is mad."

Subtlety in the Denial: There is a subtle point here: the disbeliever is unwilling to have his falsehood exposed. Therefore, he presents an alternative: either he is a fabricator or he is mad. He does not state definitively that the Prophet (PBUH) is a fabricator. This is a precaution against being accused of outright falsehood, as it is possible that the speaker genuinely believes what he is saying (even if it is wrong). In some contexts, merely being mistaken (based on a prior belief) prevents one from being labeled a liar.

Consider the example: If someone says, "Zayd has come," and it later turns out Zayd did not come, and he is told, "You lied," he might reply, "I did not lie; I only heard it from so-and-so, and I assumed he was truthful." He defends himself against the charge of lying by citing his assumption.

The disbelievers took precautions to avoid the clear exposure of their falsehood. Every intelligent person should guard against their lies being exposed to others. A rational person should not be less cautious than a disbeliever in this regard.

Allah's Response: Allah then responds to their accusations:

• In response to their claim, "{أَفْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا}" (Has he invented a lie against Allah?), Allah replies: "{بَلِ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ فِي الْعَذَابِ وَالضَّلَالِ الْمُبِينِ}" (But those who do not believe in the Hereafter are in punishment and manifest error) (Verse 8, following the context of the preceding verses). The punishment is fitting because accusing the truthful of lying is hurtful; it is a testimony against them that they deserve punishment. Thus, the punishment is placed upon them for attributing falsehood.
• In response to their claim, "{أَم بِهِ جِنَّةٌ}" (or is he mad?), Allah describes them as being in "{الضَّلَالِ الْمُبِينِ}" (manifest error). Attributing madness to a sane person is less harmful than accusing him of lying, as madness does not testify that the person deserves punishment. Instead, it attributes the issue to a lack of guidance. Allah clarifies that they are the ones who are misguided. He then qualifies their misguidance as "الْمُبِينِ" (manifest/far-reaching) because whoever calls the guided one misguided is himself misguided; and whoever calls the Guide (the Prophet PBUH) misguided is even more astray. The Prophet (PBUH) was the guide for every rightly guided person.

{أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِنْ نَشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ الْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُنِيبٍ} (Have they not observed what is before them and what is behind them of the heaven and the earth? If We willed, We could cause the earth to swallow them, or make pieces of the heaven fall upon them. Indeed in that is a sign for every servant who turns to Allah.)

This verse challenges them to reflect upon the creation surrounding them—what is in front of them and what is behind them, encompassing the heaven and the earth.

Allah warns them of His power: "If We willed, We could cause the earth to swallow them, or make pieces of the heaven fall upon them."

Indeed, in this demonstration of power over the visible creation, "there is a sign for every servant who turns to Allah (in repentance/submission)." This sign is clear evidence for those who are inclined to heed divine warnings.