Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

48. “(O’ Prophet!) Behold how they strike similitudes for you, so they have gone astray, therefore, they cannot find the way (to truth).”

Occasion of the Revelation

Ibn Abbas asserts that: Abū Sufyan, Abu Jahl, and the like sometimes came to call on the Prophet (S) and listened to his words. One day, one of them told others:

“I have not got any idea as to what Muhammad (S) says. I only notice that his lips move.”

However, Abu Sufyan answered:

“I am of the opinion that some of his words are truthful.”

Abū Jahl suggested:

“He is crazy”,

while Abū Lahab added:

“He is a soothsayer.”

The other one said:

“He is a poet,”

under which circumstances of futile speech and inconvenient accusations, the verse was revealed.

In this noble verse, again addressing the Prophet (S), He declares in a short statement, which is a pounding answer and a blow to this seduced group, implying: Watch carefully as to how they are setting examples in your case.

One is calling you a sorcerer while the other one calls you as someone bewitched; one calls you a soothsayer while the other ones call you insane and, therefore, they are all being seduced and, hence, unable to discover the truth for themselves.

The verse says:

“(O’ Prophet!) Behold how they strike similitudes for you, so they have gone astray, therefore, they cannot find the way (to truth).”

This does not imply that the path leading towards the truth is not transparent and the profile of the truth remains hidden. On the contrary, they have not got the right kind of eyes to see, and, hence, they have lost their rational attitude because of their tenacity, ignorance, fanaticism, and obstinacy which have all put their sense of reasoning out of work.