Al-An'am Verse 156

You ˹pagans˺ can no longer say, “Scriptures were only revealed to two groups before us and we were unaware of their teachings.”

You [pagans] may no longer say, “Scriptures were only sent down to two groups before us, and we were unaware of their teachings.”

lest you should say, 'The Book was sent down only upon two parties before us, and we have indeed been heedless of their study';

lest you say, ‘Scriptures were only sent down to two communities before us: we were not aware of what they studied,’

Lest ye should say: the Book was only sent down to the two sects before us, and we in sooth were unaware of their readings.

Lest ye should say; "The Book was sent down to two Peoples before us, and for our part, we remained unacquainted with all that they learned by assiduous study;"

(You may no longer) say now that the Book was revealed only to two groups of people before Us and that we had indeed been unaware of what they read.

Lest you say: "The Book that was sent before was meant only for two groups; we were not aware of their teachings;"

For you (the disbelievers) may say, “The Book was sent down only to two groups (Jews and Christians) before us; and we were totally unaware of what they read and taught.”

Lest you should say, ‘The Book was sent down only to two communities before us, and we were indeed unaware of their studies,’

(We have sent it down) lest you should say (as an excuse), "The Book was sent down only on the two groups of people before us and indeed we were unaware of what they were taught by it."

(We have revealed this blessed Book) lest you should say, `The Book has only been revealed to two communities (- the Jews and the Christians) before us, and (as for us) we remained unaware of what those (Books) read.´

That you say: "But The Book was descended on two groups from before us, and that we were about their studies/readings ignoring/disregarding (E) ."

For you (the disbelievers) may say, “The Book was sent down only to two groups (Jews and Christians) before us; and we were totally unaware of what they read and taught.”

Lest you say, "The Book (Scripture) was only sent down to two sects before us; verily, we care naught for (or are unaware of) what they read."

Lest you (pagan Arabs) should say: "The Book was only sent down to two sects before us (the Jews and the Christians), and for our part, we were in fact unaware of what they studied."

And this is a Book We have revealed, full of blessings; so follow it and keep your duty that mercy may be shown to you,

Lest you say that the Book was only revealed to two parties before us and We were truly unaware of what they read.

Lest ye should say: The Scripture was revealed only to two sects before us, and we in sooth were unaware of what they read;

and will not say that the Book was revealed only to two groups of people before you, or that you were ignorant of its knowledge,

lest you should say: 'The Book was sent down only to two parties before us; we are inattentive to their study'

Lest you should say: "The Book was sent down only to two sects before us, and for our part, we were in fact unaware of what they studied."

and not say, "The Book was only sent down to the two groups before us and we were indeed unaware of their teachings,"

Lest you say, “The Scripture was revealed to two parties before us, and we were unaware of their teachings.”

We have revealed it, lest you should say, `The Scripture was revealed only upon two parties -- the Jews and the Christians -- before us and we (in has been softened, its noun omitted, in other words [read as] inn) indeed have been unacquainted with their study', their reading [of the scripture], not knowing any of it, since it is not in our own language.

The Qur'an is Allah's Proof Against His Creation

Allah says;

أَن تَقُولُواْ إِنَّمَا أُنزِلَ الْكِتَابُ عَلَى طَأيِفَتَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِنَا

Lest you should say;"The Book was sent down only to two sects before us,

Ibn Jarir commented on the Ayah,

"The Ayah means, this is a Book that We sent down, so that you do not say,
إِنَّمَا أُنزِلَ الْكِتَابُ عَلَى طَأيِفَتَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِنَا
("The Book was sent down only to two sects before us)." This way, you will have no excuse.

Allah said in another Ayah,

وَلَوْلا أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُواْ رَبَّنَا لَوْلا أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولاً فَنَتِّبِعَ ءايَـتِكَ

Otherwise, they would have suffered a calamity because of what their hands sent forth, and said;"Our Lord! Why did You not send us a Messenger We would then have followed Your Ayat."" (28;47)

The Ayah,
عَلَى طَأيِفَتَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِنَا
(to two sects before us),

According to Ali bin Abi Talhah who narrated it from Ibn Abbas,

refers to the Jews and Christians,

Similar was reported from Mujahid, As-Suddi, Qatadah and several others.

Allah's statement,

وَإِن كُنَّا عَن دِرَاسَتِهِمْ لَغَافِلِينَ



"...and for our part, we were in fact unaware of what they studied."

meaning;`we did not understand what they said because the revelation was not in our tongue. We, indeed, were busy and unaware of their message,' so they said.

Allah said next