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."
The Believers
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."
Nearby ayahs help place verse 23:83 in sequence and meaning.
بَلْ قَالُوا۟ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ
Rather, they say like what the former peoples said.
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?
قُل لِّمَنِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Say, [O Muhammad], "To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?"
سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
They will say, "To Allah." Say, "Then will you not remember?"