Al-'Ankabut Verse 48

You ˹O Prophet˺ could not read any writing ˹even˺ before this ˹revelation˺, nor could you write at all. Otherwise, the people of falsehood would have been suspicious.

You [O Prophet] never recited any book before this, nor did you write with your hand. Otherwise, the people of falsehood would have raised suspicions.

Not before this didst thou recite any Book, or inscribe it with thy right hand, for then those who follow falsehood would have doubted.

You never recited any Scripture before We revealed this one to you; you never wrote one down with your hand. If you had done so, those who follow falsehood might have had cause to doubt.

And thou hast not been reciting any book before it, nor hast thou been writing it With thine right hand, for then might the followers of falsehood have doubted.

And thou wast not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand; In that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted.

(O Prophet), you did not recite any Book before, nor did you write it down with your hand; for then the votaries of falsehood would have had a cause for doubt.

You did not read any Scripture before this, nor wrote one with your right hand, or else these dissemblers would have found a cause to doubt it.

And you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) were not reading any Book before it, nor writing with your right hand – if it were, the people of falsehood would surely have doubted.

You did not use to recite any scripture before it, nor did you write it with your right hand, for then the impugners would have been skeptical.

You did not (O Messenger) read of any book before it (the revelation of this Qur’an), nor did you write one with your right (or left) hand. For then those who have ever sought to disprove the truth might have a reason to doubt (it).

(Prophet!) you read no book, nor did you write one with your own hand before this (Qur´ân was revealed). (Had it been so,) those who declare (it) as false could then (have the cause to) entertain some doubts.

And We were not reading/reciting from before it from a Book , and nor you write it with your right (hand), then the wasters/falsifiers would have doubted/become suspicious.

And you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) were not reading any Book before it, nor writing with your right hand – if it were, the people of falsehood would surely have doubted.

Thus did We send down to you the Book; and those unto whom We gave the Book (Scriptures) before will believe therein, and of these (Pagan Arabs) also there are some who believe therein. None reject Our revelations save disbelievers.

Neither did you (O Muhammad SAW) read any book before it (this Quran), nor did you write any book (whatsoever) with your right hand. In that case, indeed, the followers of falsehood might have doubted.

And argue not with the People of the Book except by what is best, save such of them as act unjustly. But say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him we submit.

And you did not recite before it any book, nor did you transcribe one with your right hand, for then could those who say untrue things have doubted.

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.

You were not able to read or write before the Quran was revealed to you; otherwise, the followers of falsehood would have tried to confuse the matter.

Never before did you recited any Book, or inscribe it with your right hand. If you had done so, those who follow falsehood would have doubted.

Neither did you read any book before it nor did you write any book with your right hand. In that case, indeed, the followers of falsehood might have doubted.

You were not able to read any book before this, nor did you write one down with your hand. If you had done so, the followers of falsehood would have had cause to doubt it.

You did not read any scripture before this, nor did you write it down with your right hand; otherwise the falsifiers would have doubted.

And you did not use to recite before this, namely, [before] the Qur'n, any [other] Book, nor did you write it with your right hand, for, had you been reciting [something] and writing, then those who follow falsehood, the Jews, would have had doubts, about you and would have said, `What the Torah states is that he will be unlettered (umm), unable to read or write'.

وَمَا كُنتَ تَتْلُو مِن قَبْلِهِ مِن كِتَابٍ وَلَا تَخُطُّهُ بِيَمِينِكَ

Neither did you read any book before it (this Qur'an) nor did you write any book with your right hand.

meaning, `you lived among your people for a long time before you brought this Qur'an. During this time you never read any book or wrote anything. Your people, as well as others all know that you are an unlettered man who does not read or write.'

This is how he was also described in the previous Scriptures, as Allah says;

الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِىَّ الاُمِّىَّ الَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى التَّوْرَاةِ وَالاِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَـهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ

Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet, the unlettered about whom they find written with them in the Tawrah and the Injil, -- he commands them with good; and forbids them from evil. (7;157)

This is how the Messenger of Allah will remain until the Day of Resurrection, unable to write even one line or one letter. He used to have scribes who would write down the revelation for him, or would write letters from him to be sent to different places.

Allah's saying;

إِذًا لاَّرْتَابَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ



In that case, indeed, the followers of falsehood might have doubted.

means, `if you had been literate, some ignorant people would have doubted you. They would have said that you learned this from Books inherited from the Prophets which came before.'

Indeed, they did say that, even though they knew that he was unlettered and could not read or write.

وَقَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِىَ تُمْلَى عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلً

And they say;"Tales of the ancients, which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon." (25;5)

Allah says;

قُلْ أَنزَلَهُ الَّذِى يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ

Say;"It has been sent down by Him Who knows the secret of the heavens and the earth. (25;6)

And Allah says here