Surah Yunus Tafseer

أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا

Is it a wonder for mankind...

They have always found it strange that Allah would send Messengers to them from among mankind.

Allah also tells us about other people from previous nations who said,

أَبَشَرٌ يَهْدُونَنَا

Shall mere men guide us? (64:6)

Hud and Salih said to their people:

أَوَ عَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَأءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِّنْكُمْ

Do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you! (7:63)

Allah also told us what the disbelievers from Quraysh said:

أَجَعَلَ الاٌّلِهَةَ إِلَـهاً وَحِداً إِنَّ هَـذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌ

Has he made the gods into one God Verily, this is a curious thing! (38:5)

Ad-Dahhak reported Ibn Abbas that he said:

"When Allah sent Muhammad as a Messenger, most of the Arabs denied him and his message and said:Allah is greater than sending a human Messenger like Muhammad."

Ibn Abbas said, "So Allah revealed:

أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا

Is it a wonder for mankind..."

أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ النَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ

that We have sent Our revelation to a man from among themselves (saying):"Warn mankind, and give good news to those who believe,

أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ

that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds,

Scholars have differed over the meaning of the reward for the good deeds in this Ayah:

وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ

and give good news to those who believe that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said about this Ayah,

"Eternal happiness has been written for them."

Al-Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said:

"It is the good reward for what they have done."

Mujahid said:

"It is their good deeds -- their prayers, fasting, charity, and glorification."

He then said,

"And Muhammad will intercede for them."

Allah said:

قَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ إِنَّ هَـذَا لَسَاحِرٌ مُّبِينٌ

(But) the disbelievers say:"This is indeed an evident sorcerer!"

This means that the disbelievers said this although Allah has sent a Messenger from among themselves to them, a man of their own race as a bearer of good news and as a warner. But they are the liars in saying that