Surah Ibrahim Tafseer

Earlier Nations disbelieved in Their Prophets

Allah says:

أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَالَّذِينَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلاَّ اللّهُ

Has not the news reached you, of those before you, the people of Nuh, `Ad, and Thamud, and those after them! None knows them but Allah.

Allah narrated to this Ummah (followers of Muhammad) the stories of the people of Prophet Nuh, `Ad and Thamud, and other ancient nations that belied their Messengers. Only Allah knows the count of these nations,

جَاءتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ

To them came their Messengers with clear proofs,

they brought them evidences and plain, tremendous proofs and signs.

Ibn Ishaq reported that Amr bin Maymun said that Abdullah said about Allah's statement,

لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلااَّ اللّهُ

(None knows them but Allah),

"The genealogists utter lies."

This is why Urwah bin Az-Zubayr said,

"We did not find anyone who knows the forefathers of Ma`dd bin Adnan."

Meaning of, "They put Their Hands in Their Mouths"

Allah said next,

فَرَدُّواْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِي أَفْوَاهِهِمْ

but they put their hands in their mouths,

It is said that they pointed to the Messengers' mouths asking them to stop calling them to Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored.

It is also said that it means, they placed their hands on their mouths in denial of the Messengers.

It was also said that it means that they did not answer the call of the Messengers, or they were biting their hands in rage.

Mujahid, Muhammad bin Ka`b and Qatadah said that;

they belied the Messengers and refuted their call with their mouths.

I (Ibn Kathir) say that Mujahid's Tafsir is supported by the completion of the narrative,

وَقَالُواْ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِ وَإِنَّا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَنَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ

and said:"Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and we are really in grave doubt as to that to which you invite us."

Al-Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"When they heard Allah's Word, they were amazed and placed their hands on their mouths,"

وَقَالُواْ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِ

and said:"Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent."

They said, We do not believe what you brought us, and have strong doubt in its authenticity.