But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, "Why was he not given like that which was given to Moses?" Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said, "[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other,1110 and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers."
Notes
[1110] The reference is by the disbelievers of Quraysh to the Qur’ān and the Torah.
Verse 48 of Surah Al-Qasas (28:48), a Meccan surah, is in juz 20, on page 391 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.
Listen to verse 48 of Surah Al-Qasas
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Tafsir of verse 48
Al-Mukhtasar
So when Muhammad came to them as a Messenger, they said: “Why has Muhammad not been given miracles proving his messengership, similar to what Moses was given in the Hand, Staff and the Torah which was revealed at once?” O Messenger! Say to them, refuting them: “Did the Jews not reject what Moses was given previously, and they said regarding the Torah and the Qur’ān, “Both are sorcery, each supporting the other!” and they also said, “I reject both the Torah and the Qur’ān!”?
But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, “If only he was given the like of what was given to Moses before21.” Did they not reject what was given to Moses before? They say, “Both [revelations] are works of magic, supporting each other”, adding, “We truly reject both of them22.”
Notes
[21] The pagans of Makkah demanded that the Qur’an should have been revealed all at once like the Torah, and the Prophet (ﷺ) should have brought us tangible miracles like Moses’ staff, illuminating hand, etc.
[22] It refers to the pagans of Makkah concerning the Qur’an and the Torah.
But when the truth (i.e. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم with his Message) has come to them from Us, they say: "Why is he not given the like of what was given to Mûsâ (Moses)? Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Mûsâ (Moses) of old? They say: "Two kinds of magic [the Taurât (Torah) and the Qur’an], each helping the other!" And they say: "Verily in both we are disbelievers."
But when there came unto them the Truth from Our presence, they said: Why is he not given the like of what was given unto Moses? Did they not disbelieve in that which was given unto Moses of old? They say: Two magics that support each other; and they say: Lo! in both we are disbelievers.
But (now), when the Truth has come to them from Ourselves, they say, "Why are not (Signs) sent to him, like those which were sent to Moses?" Do they not then reject (the Signs) which were formerly sent to Moses? They say: "Two kinds of sorcery, each assisting the other!" And they say: "For us, we reject all (such things)!"
But (now) when the truth has come to them from Us, they say: Why is he not given the like of what was given to Musa? What! did they not disbelieve in what Musa was given before? They say: Two magicians backing up each other; and they say: Surely we are unbelievers in all.
Then as soon as the Truth came to them from Our Providence they said, "Had he not been brought the like of what was brought to Musa!" (Moses) And did they not disbelieve in what was brought to M?s'a earlier? They said, "Two kinds of sorcery (Literally: two sorceries) mutually backing each other!" And they said, "Surely in each (of them) we are disbelievers."
[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allāh after the messengers. And ever is Allāh Exalted in Might and Wise.
O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger to make clear to you [the religion] after a period [of suspension] of messengers, lest you say, "There came not to us any bringer of good tidings or a warner." But there has come to you a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And Allāh is over all things competent.
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