Al-’Ankabut 29:48
The Spider · Meccan · Juz 21 · Page 402
The Unlettered Prophet
وَمَا كُنتَ تَتۡلُواْ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ مِن كِتَٰبࣲ وَلَا تَخُطُّهُۥ بِيَمِينِكَۖ إِذࣰا لَّٱرۡتَابَ ٱلۡمُبۡطِلُونَ ٤٨
And thou (O Muhammad) wast not a reader of any scripture before it, nor didst thou write it with thy right hand, for then might those have doubted, who follow falsehood.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
You did not recite any scripture before it, nor did you write one with your hand.
Insight
According to Elmalılı, had he not been unlettered but able to read and write, the people of falsehood would have doubted, saying “He learned it somewhere.”
Reflect
Reflect that the Qur’an’s source is Allah.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›