Sura-13 [Ar Ra'd madina 96]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوْلآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ...

13:7.     And the Unbelievers say!

"Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?"

C1811. After all the Signs that have just been mentioned it is mere fractiousness to say, "Bring down a Sign."

Al-Mustafa brought Signs and credentials as other Prophets did, and like them, refused to satisfy mere idle curiosity.

...إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُنذِرٌ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ ﴿٧﴾

But thou art truly a warner and to every people a guide.

C1812. The last sentence of this verse has usually been interpreted to mean that the Prophet's function was merely to warn, and that guidance was sent by Allah to every nation through its Prophets.

I think the following interpretation is equally possible:

'it is itself a Sign that Al-Mustafa should warn and preach and produce the Quran, and the guidance which he brings is universal guidance, as from Allah.'

Other versions:

Transliteration Wa yaqu_lul lazina kafaru_ lau la_ unzila 'alaihi a_yatum mir rabbih(i), innama_ anta munziruw wa likulli qaumin ha_d(in).

13: 7

Asad However, they who are bent on denying the truth [refuse to believe and] say, "Why has no miraculous sign ever been bestowed on him from on high by his Sustainer?" 16 [But] thou art only a warmer; and [in God] all people have a guide. 17

Yusuf Ali And the Unbelievers say! "Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?" But thou art truly a warner and to every people a guide.

Pickthall Those who disbelieve say: If only some portent were sent down upon him from his Lord! Thou art a warner only, and for every folk a guide.

Yuksel Those who reject say, "If only a sign was sent down to him from his Lord." You are but a warner, and to every nation is a guide.

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[[ Asad’s notes - 16 I.e., to prove that he (Muhammad) is really a prophet inspired by God. But the Qur'an makes it clear in several places (e.g., 6:7 and 111, 10:96-97 or 13:31) that even a miracle would not convince those who are "bent on denying the truth".

17 According to the classical commentators, this sentence lends itself to several interpretations:

(1) "Thou art only a warmer; and every nation has had a guide like thee (i.e., a prophet)"- which would be in consonance with the Qur'anic doctrine of the continuity of prophetic guidance; or

(2) "Thou art only a warmer - but [at the same time] also a guide unto all people" - which would stress the universality of the Qur'anic message as contrasted with the time-bound and ethnically limited missions of the earlier prophets; or

(3) "Thou art only a warmer bound to do no more than deliver the message entrusted to thee, while it is God alone who can truly guide men's hearts towards faith".

Since the last of the above three interpretations is the most plausible and has, moreover, the support of Abd Allah ibn Abbas, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Mujahid and Ad-Dahhak, I have adopted it in my rendering. According to Zamakhshari, this interpretation is further strengthened by the subsequent reference to God's omniscience. God knows what any female bears [in her womb], and by how much the wombs may fall short [in gestation], and by how much they may increase [the average period]: 18 for with Him everything is [created] in accordance with its scope and purpose." ]]