Surah al-Ahqaf (Sand Dunes) 46 : 10

Explanatory Note

Those advocates of Islam endowed with profound insight into its message follow in the footsteps of the Prophet and find the same reassurance. They carry on with their advocacy of the Divine message seeking neither personal gain nor self interest. They do not know what the future holds for it or for them. They do not ask their Lord for evidence; they have all the evidence they need in their hearts. Nor do they pray for any special favour; it is sufficient favour for them that they follow this line. They discharge their duty, and this is enough for them. They do not overstep the fine line God has demarcated for them.

The surah then puts before the unbelievers a witness who is close at hand and whose testimony is particularly relevant because he belongs to an earlier Divine religion whose followers are aware of the nature of revelation:

Say: Have you thought: what if this Qur'an is really from God and you reject it? What if a witness fiom among the Children of Israel testifies to its similarity [to earlier scriptures', and has believed in it while you glory in your arrogance? God does not guide wrongdoers.'

This verse may refer to one or more of the Jews who, knowing the nature of the Torah, recognized that the Qur'an had the same nature as earlier revealed books and, therefore, declared themselves believers in Islam. 

The surah uses a special style in presenting its argument to them: "Have you thought: what if this Qur'an is really from God and you reject it?..." It aims to shake their stubborn rejection and raise a fear within them concerning the eventual result. Since there is a possibility that the Qur'an may really be from God, as Muhammad (peace be upon him) says, should they not take precautions lest their rejection of it brings them to a terrible end? Could all the warnings it provides come true? Would they not be better advised to reflect on the whole matter lest they leave themselves open to all that it warns them against? Taking such precautions is all the wiser, considering that one or more of the people of Divine faiths confirmed that the Qur'an is of the same nature as earlier revealed scriptures, and followed this by declaring their belief in it. By contrast, they, whose language the Qur'an speaks, persist with their rejection. This is indeed blatant wrongdoing as it suppresses the truth. It deserves God's punishment: "God does not guide wrongdoers."