Surah An-Nahl — Verse 103
The Bee · 16:103 · 103/128
وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُۥ بَشَرٌ ۗ لِّسَانُ ٱلَّذِى يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِىٌّ وَهَـٰذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِىٌّ مُّبِينٌ
Walaqad naAAlamu annahum yaqooloona innamayuAAallimuhu basharun lisanu allathee yulhidoonailayhi aAAjamiyyun wahatha lisanun AAarabiyyunmubeen
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
And We certainly know that they say, "It is only a human being who teaches him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)]." The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and this [recitation, i.e., Qur’ān] is [in] a clear Arabic language.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
We know very well that they say, ‘It is a man who teaches him,’ but the language of the person they allude to is foreign, while this revelation is in clear Arabic.
Marmaduke Pickthall
And We know well that they say: Only a man teacheth him. The speech of him at whom they falsely hint is outlandish, and this is clear Arabic speech.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
We know well that they say, “There is a man who teaches him.” The language of the one they refer to is non-Arabic while this is clear Arabic language.
Al-Hilali & Khan
And indeed We know that they (polytheists and pagans) say: "It is only a human being who teaches him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم)." The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this (the Qur’ân) is a clear Arabic tongue.
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
Surely We know well that they say about you: "It is only a human being who teaches him," (notwithstanding) that he whom they maliciously hint at is of foreign tongue, while this (Qur'an) is plain Arabic speech.
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ بَشَرٌ لِسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُبِينٌ (103)} [النحل: 103].
219 - عن عبد الله بن مسلم الحضرمي - رضي الله عنه -: أنه كان لهم عبدان من أهل غير اليمن، وكانا طفلين، وكان يقال لأحدهما: يسار، والآخر: جبر، فكانا يقرآن التوراة، وكان رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ربما جلس إليهما، فقال كفار قريش: إنما يجلس إليهما يتعلم منهما، فأنزل الله تعالى: {لِسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُبِينٌ} ¬أخرجه ابن جرير: 14/ 178، والواحدي في أسباب النزول: ص 288 برقم: 566، وصحح إسناده الحافظ في الإصابة: 2/ 439، قلت: والحديث صحيح لشواهده.¥.
220 - وجاء من حديث ابن عباس -رضي الله عنهما- شبيهاً به ¬أخرجه الحاكم: 2/ 356، ووافقه الذهبي والحديث صحيح كما قالا.¥.