The people of the Scripture ask of thee that thou shouldst cause an (actual) Book to descend upon them from heaven. They asked a greater thing of… — An Nisaa 4:153 Pin
PRAYER · AYAHKIND

يَسْـَٔلُكَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ أَن تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَٰبًۭا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ فَقَدْ سَأَلُوا۟ مُوسَىٰٓ أَكْبَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَرِنَا ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةًۭ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ بِظُلْمِهِمْ ۚ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتُ فَعَفَوْنَا عَن ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ سُلْطَٰنًۭا مُّبِينًۭا

The people of the Scripture ask of thee that thou shouldst cause an (actual) Book to descend upon them from heaven. They asked a greater thing of…

An Nisaa 4:153

PICKTHALL ENGLISH MEANING

“The people of the Scripture ask of thee that thou shouldst cause an (actual) Book to descend upon them from heaven. They asked a greater thing of Moses aforetime, for they said: Show us Allah plainly. The storm of lightning seized them for their wickedness. Then (even) after that) they chose the calf (for worship) after clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) had come unto them. And We forgave them that! And We bestowed on Moses evident authority.”

Arabic Quran text from the Tanzil Project, reproduced verbatim. English meaning by Marmaduke Pickthall. Translation is not a replacement for the Arabic Quran.

PAUSE & REFLECT

Carry the ayah beyond this page.

Carry this ayah into salah or quiet remembrance. What do you want to bring before Allah?

This is a personal reflection prompt, not tafsir. For interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the ayah’s wider Quranic context.

KEEP READING THE QURANGuidanceGhafir 40:75(And it is said unto them): This is because ye exulted in the earth without right, and because ye were petulant.