Meccan·Surah 23

المؤمنون

Surah Al-Mu'minun — Ayah 81

The Believers

118 Ayahs·Verse 23:81
23:81

بَلْ قَالُوا۟ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ

Rather, they say like what the former peoples said.

Context in Surah Al-Mu'minun

Nearby ayahs help place verse 23:81 in sequence and meaning.

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

And it is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ وَلَهُ ٱخْتِلَـٰفُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

And it is He who gives life and causes death, and His is the alternation of the night and the day. Then will you not reason?

قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ

They said, "When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?

لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا نَحْنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا هَـٰذَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before; this is not but legends of the former peoples."