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Surah Ghafir — 40:4

مَا يُجَـٰدِلُ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَلَا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِى ٱلْبِلَـٰدِ

Maa yujaadilu feee Aayaatil laahi illal lazeena kafaroo falaa yaghrurka taqallubuhum fil bilaad

None dispute the signs of God except those who deny, so do not be deceived by their movement through the land.

Reflection

Disputing is the thread this chapter returns to again and again, at verses 5, 35, 56 and 69, so the line here opens a case the whole surah argues. Taken alone it puzzles, since believers argue about scripture too, and the surah gives its own qualifier twice over: the disputing meant is the kind conducted with no proof behind it, aimed at refuting rather than at understanding. Taqallub is a moving to and fro, read as their comings and goings in trade, prosperity mistaken for a verdict.

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