Ma'arif al-Qur'an · Tafsir · in English
Al-Muddaththir 74:49–55
74:49–55Page 577
فَمَا لَهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلتَّذۡكِرَةِ مُعۡرِضِينَ ٤٩
Then what is [the matter] with them that they are, from the reminder, turning away
كَأَنَّهُمۡ حُمُرٞ مُّسۡتَنفِرَةٞ ٥٠
As if they were alarmed donkeys
فَرَّتۡ مِن قَسۡوَرَةِۭ ٥١
Fleeing from a lion?
بَلۡ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ أَن يُؤۡتَىٰ صُحُفٗا مُّنَشَّرَةٗ ٥٢
Rather, every person among them desires that he1 would be given scriptures spread about.2
كـَلَّاۖ بَل لَّا يَخَافُونَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ ٥٣
No! But they do not fear the Hereafter.
كـَلَّآ إِنَّهُۥ تَذۡكِرَةٞ ٥٤
No! Indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a reminder
فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ ٥٥
Then whoever wills will remember it.
فَمَا لَهُمْ عَنِ التَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِيْنَ (So what has happened to them that they are turning away from the Reminder... 74:49)
The word tadhkirah (Reminder), in this context, refers to the Holy Qur'an, because the word literally signifies a 'reminder or something that reminds'. The Qur'an is unique in reminding Allah's attributes of perfection, His mercy and wrath, and the reward and punishment. Towards the end, the verse 54 has explained that the 'Reminder' is the Holy Qur'an that is rejected by them. The allergy of the infidels against the Holy Qur'an has been mentioned in verses 50 and 51 in the following words, فَرَّتْ مِنْ قَسْوَرَةٍ كَاَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُّسْتَنْفِرَةٌ "as if they were wild donkeys, fleeing from a lion?" The word qaswarah used in verse 51 has two meanings: [ 1] a 'lion'; and [ 2] an 'archer' or a 'hunter'. Both meanings have been reported from the noble Companions.
Text: through the Quran Foundation. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences