Tafsir of Al-An'am 6:37

Surah Al-An'am (The Cattle), Verse 37

And they say, "Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?"

This is the fourth category of objections raised by those who deny the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). They said: If he were truly a messenger from God, why was a compelling sign and a dazzling miracle not sent down to him?

It is narrated that some atheists objected, saying: If Muhammad (PBUH) had brought a miraculous sign, it would not have been right for those disbelievers to say, "Why is a sign not sent down to him?" nor would they have said, "And they say, 'Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?'"

The response to this is: The Qur'an itself is a compelling miracle and a dazzling proof. This is evident because the Prophet (PBUH) challenged them with it, and they were incapable of producing anything like it, which proves its miraculous nature.

The question remains: If this is the case, why did they say, "Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?"

We say: The answer to this lies in several aspects:

First Aspect: Perhaps the people were objecting to the Qur'an being a miracle out of obstinacy and contention. They claimed it was merely a book, and a book, they argued, cannot be a miracle, just as the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel were not always demanded as immediate, compelling miracles in the same way. Because of this doubt, they demanded a miracle.

Second Aspect: They demanded compelling miracles similar to those of previous prophets, such as parting the sea, shading the mountain, or raising the dead.

Third Aspect: They demanded an increase in signs and miracles out of stubbornness and contention, such as sending down angels, causing the sky to fall in pieces upon them, and other things that the Qur'an recounts about the disbelievers.

Fourth Aspect: It could refer to what God Almighty recounted about some of them in His saying: "O Allah, if this is indeed the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment" (Al-Anfal: 32). All these interpretations are plausible based on the wording of the verse.

Then, the Almighty responded to their question: "Say, 'Indeed, Allah is capable of sending down a sign.'" Meaning, Allah is capable of bringing into existence what you requested and fulfilling what you proposed. "But most of them do not know."

There is a difference of opinion regarding the interpretation of this phrase:

First View: It means that since Allah had already sent down a dazzling sign and a compelling miracle—the Qur'an—demanding more was tantamount to baseless control and stubbornness. Allah, the Glorified, has the judgment and the command; if He wills, He acts, and if He wills, He does not act. According to the Sunnis, His actions are based purely on His Will, and according to the Mu'tazilites, they are based on what is beneficial (Maslaha). In either case, His actions are not bound by the suggestions and demands of people. If He wills, He responds to them; if He wills, He does not respond.

Second View: Since the compelling miracle and sufficient, clear proof had already appeared, they had no excuse or pretext left. If God had answered their demands then, perhaps they would have demanded a second, then a third, then a fourth, and so on endlessly. This would lead to the evidence never being established and the argument never being completed. Therefore, it was necessary from the beginning to close this door and be satisfied with the previously sent compelling miracle and dazzling proof.

Third View: If God had granted them the compelling miracles they requested, and yet they still did not believe upon their appearance, they would have deserved the punishment of complete annihilation. Out of His mercy upon them, God preserved them from this calamity, so He did not grant them what they requested. Even though they do not know the manner of this mercy, for this reason He said: "But most of them do not know."

Fourth View: Allah knew that they were only requesting these miracles not to seek benefit, but out of contention and fanaticism. He knew that even if He gave them what they asked for, they would not believe. For this reason, He did not give them what they sought, knowing there would be no benefit in it. Thus, the meaning of "But most of them do not know" is that the people do not know that because they requested it out of contention and fanaticism, Allah will not grant them their request. If they had been knowledgeable and rational, they would have requested it seeking benefit, and in that case, Allah would have granted them what they requested in the most perfect manner. And Allah knows best.

7. And there is no creature on the earth or bird that flies with its wings except that they are communities like you. We have not neglected anything in the Book. Then to their Lord they will be gathered.