Quran Universe
64:6

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُۥ كَانَت تَّأۡتِيهِمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ فَقَالُوٓاْ أَبَشَرٞ يَهۡدُونَنَا فَكَفَرُواْ وَتَوَلَّواْۖ وَّٱسۡتَغۡنَى ٱللَّهُۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٞ

Thalika biannahu kanat tateehim rusuluhum bialbayyinati faqaloo abasharun yahdoonana fakafaroo watawallaw waistaghna Allahu waAllahu ghaniyyun hameedun

That is because their messengers used to come to them with clear evidences, but they said, "Shall human beings guide us?" and disbelieved and turned away. And Allah dispensed [with them]; and Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.

Word by word
  1. ذَٰلِكَThat
  2. بِأَنَّهُۥ(is) because
  3. كَانَتhad
  4. تَّأۡتِيهِمۡcome to them
  5. رُسُلُهُمtheir Messengers
  6. بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِwith clear proofs
  7. فَقَالُوٓاْbut they said
  8. أَبَشَرٞShall human beings
  9. يَهۡدُونَنَاguide us
  10. فَكَفَرُواْSo they disbelieved
  11. وَتَوَلَّواْۖand turned away
  12. وَّٱسۡتَغۡنَىAnd can do without them
  13. ٱللَّهُۚAllah
  14. وَٱللَّهُAnd Allah
  15. غَنِيٌّ(is) Self-sufficient
  16. حَمِيدٞPraiseworthy
At-Taghabun · 64:6Madinah

Shall a mere human guide us?

Rejecting the message because of the messenger

What happened
messengers camewith clear proofs
met with
"just a man?"dismissed for being human
but
Allah needs no onefree of need, praised
Who loses
Allah loses followersHe needs them
Allah is free of needthey lose themselves

Ibn Kathir says the past nations dismissed the idea that guidance could come through a human like themselves. They turned away. And Allah did without them, because He is free of all need and worthy of all praise.

The reminder comes from your younger cousin, or a colleague you think is less clever than you. "Who are you to tell me?" The truth is still the truth, whoever carries it.

I only take advice from people better than me.

Truth from an ordinary person is still truth, and Allah does not need my approval.

Try this

Think of one piece of good advice you rejected because of who said it. Take it seriously today.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 64:5)

Has not the news reached you of those who disbelieved aforetime? And so they tasted the evil result of their disbelief, and theirs will be a painful torment (5)That was because there came to them their Messengers with Bayyinat, but they said: "Shall mere men guide us?" So they disbelieved and turned away. But Allah was not in need. And Allah is not in need, Worthy of all praise (6)

A Warning delivered through mentioning the End of the Disbelieving Nations

Informing about the past nations and the torment and disciplinary lessons that they suffered because of opposing the Messengers and denying the truth. Allah says;

أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ

(Has not the news reached you of those who disbelieved aforetime?) meaning, information about them and what happened to them,

فَذَاقُوا وَبَالَ أَمْرِهِمْ

(And so they tasted the evil result of their disbelief.) They tasted the evil consequences of their denial and sinful actions. And it refers to the punishment and humiliation they received in the life of the world,

وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

(and theirs will be a painful torment.) in the Hereafter, added to the torment they received in this life. Allah explained why;

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُ كَانَتْ تَأْتِيهِمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ

(That was because there came to them their Messengers with Bayyinat,) supporting arguments, evidence, and clear proofs,

 فَقَالُوا أَبَشَرٌ يَهْدُونَنَا

(but they said:"Shall mere men guide us?") They discounted and dismissed the possibility that the Message would be sent to a human and that their guidance would come by the hands of a man like themselves,

فَكَفَرُوا وَتَوَلَّوْا

(So they disbelieved and turned away.) they denied the truth and turned away from abiding by it,

 وَاسْتَغْنَى اللَّهُ ۚ 

(But Allah was not in need.) of them,

وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ

(And Allah is not need, Worthy of all praise.)