Surah Fussilat 41:44

Rejection of the Qur'an is pure Stubbornness

Allah tells us that the Qur'an is so eloquent and perfect in its wording and meanings, yet despite that the idolators do not believe in it. He tells us that their disbelief is the disbelief of stubbornness, as He says elsewhere:

(And if We had revealed it unto any of the non-Arabs, and he had recited it unto them, they would not have believed in it.) (26:198-199). If the Qur'an had been revealed in the language of the non-Arabs, they would have said, because of their stubbornness:

(Why are not its verses explained in detail What! not in Arabic and an Arab) meaning, why is it not revealed in detail in Arabic And by way of denunciation they would have said, "What! not in Arabic nor from an Arab -- i.e., how can foreign words be revealed to an Arab who does not understand them This interpretation was reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, As-Suddi and others.

(Say: "It is for those who believe, a guide and a cure...") means, `say, O Muhammad: this Qur'an, for the one who believes in it, is guidance for his heart and a cure for the doubts and confusion that exists in people's hearts.'

(And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness in their ears,) means, they do not understand what is in it.

(and it is blindness for them.) means they are not guided to the explanations contained therein. This is like the Ayah:

(And We send down of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe, and it increases the wrongdoers nothing but loss.) (17:82).

(They are called from a place far away.) Mujahid said, "Far away from their hearts." Ibn Jarir said, "It is as if the one who is addressing them is calling to them from a distant place, and they cannot understand what he is saying." This is like the Ayah:

(And the example of those who disbelieve is as that of him who shouts to those (flock of sheep) that hears nothing but calls and cries. (They are) deaf, dumb and blind. So they do not understand.) (2:171)

Taking Musa as an Example

(And indeed We gave Musa the Scripture, but dispute arose therein.) means, they disbelieved in him and did not show him any respect.

(Therefore be patient as did the Messengers of strong will) (46:35).

(And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord,) i.e., to delay the Reckoning until the Day of Resurrection,

(the matter would have been settled between them.) means, the punishment would have been hastened for them. But they have an appointed time, beyond which they will find no escape.

(But truly, they are in grave doubt thereto.) means, their words of disbelief are not due to any wisdom or insight on their part; rather they spoke without any attempt at examining it thoroughly. This was also the interpretation of Ibn Jarir, and it is a plausible interpretation. And Allah knows best.

Ayat ini merupakan jawaban dari sikap dan ucapan orang-orang musyrik yang terdapat pada ayat-ayat yang sebelumnya. Kepada mereka disampaikan bahwa seandainya Allah menurunkan Al-Qur'an kepada Nabi Muhammad dengan salah satu bahasa selain dari bahasa Arab, tentu orang-orang Quraisy Mekah akan berkata, "Mengapa Al-Qur'an tidak diturunkan dalam bahasa Arab? Sehingga kami mudah memahami hukum-hukum dan ketentuan-ketentuan yang terdapat di dalamnya." Padahal dulunya mereka berkata, "Apakah Al-Qur'an yang diturunkan itu berbahasa selain Arab, sedang rasul yang diutus itu berbahasa Arab."

Allah memerintahkan agar Rasulullah menjawab pertanyaan orang-orang musyrik yang tidak mau percaya kepada Al-Qur'an itu dengan berkata kepada mereka, "Al-Qur'an ini bagi orang-orang yang percaya kepadanya, meyakini bahwa ia berasal dari Allah Yang Mahakuasa, dan percaya kepada rasul yang menyampaikannya, merupakan petunjuk ke jalan kebahagiaan, penawar hati, dan menghilangkan keragu-raguan. Ayat ini sejalan dengan firman Allah:

Wahai manusia! Sungguh, telah datang kepadamu pelajaran (Al-Qur'an) dari Tuhanmu, penyembuh bagi penyakit yang ada dalam dada dan petunjuk serta rahmat bagi orang yang beriman. (Yunus/10: 57)

Orang-orang yang tidak beriman kepada Allah, rasul-Nya, dan Al-Qur'an, pada telinga mereka ada sumbatan yang menutup pendengaran mereka dari mendengar ayat-ayat Al-Qur'an. Mereka buta sehingga tidak dapat melihat bukti-bukti kebesaran dan kekuasaan Allah dan tidak dapat menerima pelajaran yang disampaikan rasul.

Orang-orang yang tidak mendengar ayat-ayat Allah dan tidak dapat melihat bukti-bukti kebesaran dan kekuasaan-Nya diserupakan dengan orang yang diseru dari suatu tempat yang jauh, ia hanya dapat mendengar suara yang tidak jelas, sehingga ia tidak mengerti maksud suara itu.