Surah Fussilat 41:45

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.

Selanjutnya Allah menyampaikan kepada Nabi Muhammad agar tidak menyusahkan diri karena orang-orang Mekah itu berselisih pendapat tentang Al-Qur'an. Hal yang seperti itu telah dilakukan pula oleh umat-umat yang dahulu terhadap rasul-rasul yang diutus kepada mereka. Allah mengatakan bahwa Dia telah menurunkan Taurat kepada Musa, untuk disampaikan kepada Bani Israil. Mereka pun telah berselisih pendapat pula tentang Taurat itu. Ada yang membenarkan dan ada pula yang mendustakan. Ada yang beriman kepada Musa dan ada pula yang kafir kepadanya. Oleh karena itu, Nabi Muhammad diperintahkan untuk tidak berputus asa dalam menyampaikan agama Allah, dan bersabar menghadapi tindakan orang-orang kafir itu. Nabi saw juga diperintahkan untuk mengikuti jejak para rasul yang menyampaikan agama-Nya.

Kemudian Allah menyampaikan bahwa orang-orang kafir itu tidak segera menerima azab karena perbuatannya itu, karena azab itu ditangguhkan pelaksanaannya sampai kepada waktu yang ditentukan. Hal itu adalah sesuai dengan ketetapan-Nya bahwa Dia menangguhkan azab bagi orang-orang kafir sampai hari Kiamat. Seandainya tidak ada ketetapan yang demikian itu, tentu telah diputuskan Allah perselisihan mereka dengan orang-orang yang beriman.

Allah berfirman:

Bahkan hari Kiamat itulah hari yang dijanjikan kepada mereka dan hari Kiamat itu lebih dahsyat dan lebih pahit. (al-Qamar/54: 46)

Dan firman Allah:

Dan janganlah engkau mengira, bahwa Allah lengah dari apa yang diperbuat oleh orang yang zalim. Sesungguhnya Allah menangguhkan mereka sampai hari yang pada waktu itu mata (mereka) terbelalak. (Ibrahim/14: 42)

Allah menerangkan bahwa sebab-sebab kehancuran dan azab yang menimpa orang-orang musyrik adalah karena mereka sangat ragu-ragu dan bingung tentang Al-Qur'an. Karena bingung dan ragu, mereka mengingkarinya dan tidak mengindahkan dakwah Rasulullah.