Surah Al-An'am 6:5

Threatening the Idolators for their Stubbornness

Allah states that the rebellious, stubborn polytheists will turn away from every Ayah, meaning, sign, miracle and proof that is evidence of Allah's Uniqueness and the truth of His honorable Messengers. They will not contemplate about these Ayat or care about them. Allah said,

(Indeed, they rejected the truth when it came to them, but there will come to them the news of that which they used to mock at.) This Ayah contains a warning and a stern threat for the disbelievers' rejection of the truth, stating that the disbelievers will surely know the truth of what they used to deny and taste the evil end of their behavior. Allah advises and warns the disbelievers, that they should avoid the torments and afflictions of this life, similar to what befell their likes from previous nations, who were stronger, wealthier, had more offspring, and were more exploitive on the earth. Allah said,

(Have they not seen how many a generation before them We have destroyed whom We had established on the earth such as We have not established you) meaning, they had more wealth, children, buildings, abundant provision, riches and soldiers. Allah said next,

(and We poured out on them rain from the sky in abundance, ) in reference to rain that comes often,

(And made the rivers flow under them.) as rain was abundant and the springs were plentiful, so that We deceived them.

(Yet We destroyed them for their sins) meaning the mistakes and errors that they committed,

(and created after them other generations,) for, these generations of old perished and became as legends and stories,

(And created after them other generations.) so that We test the new generations, as well. Yet, they committed similar errors and were destroyed, as their ancestors were destroyed. Therefore, beware of the same end that might befall you, for you are not dearer to Allah than these previous nations, but the Messenger whom you defied is dearer to Allah than the Messengers they defied. Thus, you are more liable than them to receive torment, if it was not for Allah's mercy and kindness.

Allah menerangkan bahwa sebab orang-orang musyrik selalu berpaling dari ayat-ayat Allah, karena mereka telah mendustakan yang hak ketika yang hak tersebut datang kepada mereka. Kejahatan mereka ini sebagai akibat mereka menutup jalan untuk memperoleh ilmu pengetahuan.

Yang dimaksudkan dengan "yang hak" ialah agama Allah yang dibawa Nabi Muhammad, yang mengandung kaidah-kaidah agama, hukum-hukum syariat, ibadah, muamalat, haram dan halal, akhlak dan lain sebagainya, yang kesemuanya itu dijelaskan dalam Al-Qur'an. Mereka mendustakan agama berarti mendustakan Al-Qur'an sebagai dasar agama. Jika mereka memahami Al-Qur'an dan merenungkannya tentu mereka tidak mendustakan ajaran-ajaran agama itu.

Allah menegaskan kelak akan terbukti bagi mereka kebenaran berita-berita yang selalu mereka ejek di dunia. Suatu ketika mereka mengalami kehinaan di dunia ini, dan kebinasaan di akhirat akibat kedustaan mereka kepada agama. Sebaliknya mereka menyaksikan kemenangan kaum Muslimin. Peringatan Allah kepada mereka, sebelumnya dianggap angin lalu. Demikian pula terhadap janji Allah untuk kemenangan kaum Muslimin, yang ternyata kemudian berita-berita itu terbukti, antara lain dengan datangnya musim kering yang menimpa mereka, dan hancurnya kaum musyrik pada Perang Badar dan perang-perang yang lain, serta kemenangan kaum Muslimin dengan pembebasan kota Mekah (Fath Makkah).

Dalam Al-Qur'an berulang kali diceritakan ejekan-ejekan kaum musyrik terhadap para nabi dan agama Allah, ejekan ini bertingkat-tingkat. Pertama, mereka tidak memperdulikan ayat-ayat Allah dan tanda-tanda alami serta tidak mau merenungkannya. Kedua, mereka mendustakannya. Sikap kedua ini melebihi tingkatan pertama, karena orang-orang yang bersikap acuh belum tentu mendustakan. Ketiga, mereka memperolokkannya. Orang yang mendustakan belum tentu dia sampai pada sikap memperolokkan. Sikap memperolokkan ini sudah mencapai puncak keingkaran. Orang-orang kafir menjalani ketiga tingkatan tersebut.