Transliteration:( Am yaqooloonaf taraahu qul inif taraituhoo falaa tamlikoona lee minal laahi shai'an Huwa a'lamu bimaa tufeedoona feehi kafaa bihee shaheedam bainee wa bainakum wa Huwal Ghafoorur Raheem )
Or do they say: "He has fabricated it [18]. Please declare: If I have fabricated it, you have no power to help [19] me against Allah. He knows well what you are stressing [20] upon. And He suffices to be a witness [21] between you and me, and He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful [22]".
The disbelievers accused the Holy Prophet ﷺ of fabricating the Qur’an and falsely attributing it to Allah. This was an absurd and baseless allegation, which even they knew deep down was untrue. The Qur’an repeatedly challenged them—if it is man-made, then produce even a single verse like it—yet they failed every time.
The Prophet ﷺ makes it clear: If I had fabricated it, then no one could save me from Allah’s punishment. This shows his full awareness of the gravity of falsely attributing words to Allah, and also emphasizes that no power can shield anyone from Divine wrath. One who knows this truth cannot commit such a grave act.
This means that while the Prophet ﷺ is truthful, the disbelievers falsely label him a liar. Hence, they are the ones who have become deserving of punishment. They should be concerned for themselves, for Allah knows well their slanders and persistent opposition.
Just as the Prophet ﷺ is the witness of Allah’s Oneness, Allah is the witness to the Prophet’s truthfulness and Prophethood. He demonstrated this through numerous miracles granted to the Prophet ﷺ, confirming his divine mission.
Despite their disbelief, Allah invites them gently towards Islam. Even though they lived their lives in infidelity and polytheism, if they now accept Islam, Allah will forgive all their past sins. His mercy is greater than all sins, and He remains Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
The tafsir of Surah Ahqaf verse 8 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Ahqaf ayat 7 which provides the complete commentary from verse 7 through 9.
(46:8) Do they claim that the Messenger himself has fabricated it?[9] (If so), tell them: “If I have fabricated it, then you have no power to protect me from Allah’s chastisement. He knows well the idle talk in which you indulge. He suffices as a witness between me and you.[10] He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”[11]
9. This interrogative tone expresses great surprise and amazement. It means to say: Are these people so shameless that they accuse Muhammad (peace be upon him) of fabricating the Quran himself? Whereas they know that it cannot be his word and their calling it magic is by itself an express proof that they regard it as an extraordinary word, which cannot be of human composition even according to themselves.
10. As it was quite evident that their accusation was baseless and motivated by stubbornness, there was no need to present arguments to refute it. Therefore, only this much was regarded as a sufficient response: If I have really fabricated something and committed a grave crime by imputing it to Allah, as you accuse me of, you will not be able to rescue me from Allah’s punishment. But if it is really Allah’s Word, and you are rejecting it by bringing false accusations, Allah Himself will deal with you. For the reality is not hidden from Allah, and He is sufficient to decide between the truth and falsehood. If the whole world calls some one a liar, although he is truthful in Allah’s knowledge, the final decision will be in his favor. On the country, if the whole world regards some one as truthful though he is a liar in the knowledge of Allah, he will be regarded as a liar in the final judgment. Therefore, do not confuse things but pay heed to your final end.
11. Here, this sentence gives two meanings:
(1) It is in fact Allah’s mercy and His forbearance that these people are surviving in the world, although they have no hesitation in declaring Allah’s Word as falsehood; otherwise if a merciless and cruel god had been the master of this universe, he would not have allowed such insolent people to live even for a moment in the world.
(2) O unjust people, if you give up your stubbornness even now, the door of God’s mercy is still open for you, and whatever misdeeds you may have committed heretofore can be forgiven.
[1478]- Of false implications and suggestions.
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