Tafseer of Sheba · Saba · 34:44
And We had not given them any scriptures which they could study, and We had not sent to them before you, [O Muhammad], any warner.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the saying of the Exalted: وَمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ مِنْ كُتُبٍ يَدْرُسُونَهَا وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَكَ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ (34:44) (And We had not given them any scriptures which they study, nor did We send to them before you any warner.)
The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: And We did not reveal to the polytheists (mushrikīn), who said to Muḥammad ﷺ when he came to them with Our signs: this is manifest sorcery, on account of what they say of that, any scriptures which they study—He says: which they read.
As Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His saying وَمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ مِنْ كُتُبٍ يَدْرُسُونَهَا (And We had not given them any scriptures which they study), that is: which they read. وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَكَ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ (nor did We send to them before you any warner), He says: and We did not send to these polytheists of your people, O Muḥammad, regarding what they say and do, before you any prophet who warned them of Our punishment for that.
And in accordance with what we have said about that, the exegetes spoke.
* The mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَكَ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ (nor did We send to them before you any warner): Allah did not send down upon the Arabs any scripture before the Qurʾān, and did not send to them any prophet before Muḥammad ﷺ.
