What does Quran 43:31 mean?

Quran 43:31 (Surah Az-Zukhruf, Ayah 31) translates to: "And they said, "Why was this Qur'an not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?""

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 43:31 from?

This ayah is from Surah Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments of gold), the 43th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 25.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 43:31?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sahih Muslim, Jami` at-Tirmidhi.

What tafsir is available for Quran 43:31?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 43:31 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Tawhid, Al-Azim, Idolatry, Prophethood, Prophet Ibrahim.

Ayah 30

وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ قَالُوا۟ هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ...

43:31Az-Zukhruf

Ayah 32

أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحْنُ قَسَم...

وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْقَرْيَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ

Wa qaaloo law laa nuzzila haazal Quraanu 'alaa rajulim minal qaryataini 'azeem

And they said, "Why was this Qur'an not sent down upon a great man from [one of] the two cities?"

Themes in this ayah

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The Quran & revelation99

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The Quran & revelation

43:31Ayah 189

10 ayahs in Az-Zukhruf are strongly about the Quran and revelation. This is one of them.

← Previous on The Quran & revelation43:30But when the truth came to them, they said, "This is magic, and indeed we are, concerning it, disbelievers."Next on The Quran & revelation →43:43So adhere to that which is revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 43:31→

And they said ‘If only this Qur’ān had been revealed to some great man from the inhabitants of the two towns!’ in other words from either of the two; such as al-Walīd b. al-Mughīra at Mecca or ‘Urwa b. Mas‘ūd al-Thaqafī at Tā’if.

"The Messenger of Allah was asked about Al-Luqath.

Sahih Muslim #2936This hadith has been narrated on the authority of jurairi with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of words (and this is) that he (the narrator) did not say:Sahih

" They felt jealous of him. but said: The people of Mecca, were jealous people."

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #1141Abu Sa'eed narrated:Sahih

"Azl was mentined before the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'Why would one of you do that?'"

Sahih Muslim #6210Ibn 'Abbas reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to privy and I placed for him water for ablution, When he came out he said:Sahih

Who placed it here? And in a version of Zuhair they (the Companions) said, and in the version of Abu Bakr (the words are): I said: It is Ibn 'Abbas (who has done that), whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: May Allah grant him deep understanding of religion.

Sahih al-Bukhari #2856Narrated Ibn `Abbas:Sahih

Abu Sufyan said, "Heraclius sent for me when I was in 'llya' (i.e. Jerusalem). Then he asked for the letter of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and when he had finished its reading there was a great hue and cry around him and the voices grew louder and we were asked to quit the place. When we were turned out, I said to my companions, 'The cause of Ibn Abi Kabsha has become conspicuous as the King of Bani Al- Asfar is afraid of him.' "