مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرْ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
Mal Maseehub nu Maryama illaa Rasoolun qad khalat min qablihir Rusulu wa ummuhoo siddeeqatun kaanaa yaa kulaanit ta'aam; unzur kaifa nubaiyinu lahumul Aayaati suman zur annaa yu'fakoon
The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded.
مسیح ابن مریم تو صرف (خدا) کے پیغمبر تھے ان سے پہلے بھی بہت سے رسول گزر چکے تھے اور ان کی والدہ (مریم خدا کی) ولی اور سچی فرمانبردار تھیں دونوں (انسان تھے اور) کھانا کھاتے تھے دیکھو ہم ان لوگوں کے لیے اپنی آیتیں کس طرح کھول کھول کر بیان کرتے ہیں پھر (یہ) دیکھو کہ یہ کدھر الٹے جا رہے ہیں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
1. The words: إِنَّ اللَّـهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ in verse 72, translated here literally as ` Allah is the third of the three,' refers to Sayyidna Masih (Jesus Christ), Ruhul-Quds (The Holy Spirit) and Allah, or to Masih, Maryam (Mary) and Allah - with all three taken as God (Refuge with All...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: The Messiah son of Mary was only a messenger; messengers passed away before him and so he passed away like them for he is not a god as they claim otherwise he would not have passed away; his mother was a truthful woman siddīqa means extremely truthful; they both used to eat food like all other human...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Disbelief of the Christians; `Isa Only called to Tawhid
Allah states that the Christians such sects as Monarchite, Jacobite and Nestorite are disbelievers, those among them who say that `Isa is Allah. Allah is far holier than what they attribute to Him. They made this claim in spite of the fact ...
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَٰهُ مَلَكًا لَّجَعَلْنَٰهُ رَجُلًا وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّا يَلْبِسُونَ
Wa law ja'alnaahu malakal laja'alnaahu rajulanw wa lalabasnaa 'alaihim maa yalbisoon
And if We had made him an angel, We would have made him [appear as] a man, and We would have covered them with that in which they cover themselves.
نیز اگر ہم کسی فرشتہ کو بھیجتے تو اسے مرد کی صورت میں بھیجتے اور جو شبہ (اب) کرتے ہیں اسی شبے میں پھر انہیں ڈال دیتے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The third verse (8) was also revealed because of an event which concerns this very ` Abdullah ibn Abi Umaiyyah who, accompanied by Nadr ibn al-Harith and Nawfal ibn Khalid ؓ ، came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ . This time their demand was: ` We shall believe in you only when you go and bring a book from th...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And had We appointed him the one who is sent down to them an angel We would assuredly have made him the angel a man that is We would have sent him in the form of a man so that they would be able to see him since no human being is capable of seeing an angel; and had We sent him down and made him a ma...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Censuring the Rebellious and their Refusal to Accept Human Messengers
Allah describes the rebellion and stubbornness of the idolators in defying the truth and arguing against it,
وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ كِتَـباً فِى قِرْطَاسٍ فَلَمَسُوهُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ
(And even if We had sent down unto you a Mess...
قُل لَّآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Qul laaa aqoolu lakum 'indee khazaaa'inul laahi wa laaa a'lamul ghaiba wa laaa aqoolu lakum innee malakun in attabi'u illaa maa yoohaaa ilaiy; qul hal yastawil a'maa walbaseer; afalaa tatafakkaroon
Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?"
کہہ دو کہ میں تم سے یہ نہیں کہتا کہ میرے پاس الله تعالیٰ کے خزانے ہیں اور نہ (یہ کہ) میں غیب جانتا ہوں اور نہ تم سے یہ کہتا کہ میں فرشتہ ہوں۔ میں تو صرف اس حکم پر چلتا ہوں جو مجھے (خدا کی طرف سے) آتا ہے۔ کہہ دو کہ بھلا اندھا اور آنکھ والے برابر ہوتے ہیں؟ تو پھر تم غور کیوں نہیں کرتے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the last verse (45), it was said that, when the mass punishment of Allah Ta` ala came, the people who did wrong were uprooted to the last man. Said immediately after was: وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (And praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds) where the hint given is: Whenever t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say to them ‘I do not say to you “I possess the treasure houses of God” from which He provides sustenance; and I do not have knowledge of the Unseen that which is hidden from me and has not been revealed to me. And I do not say to you “I am an angel” from among the angels; I only follow what is reve...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Messenger Neither has the Key to Allah's Treasures, Nor Knows the Unseen
Allah said to His Messenger ,
قُل لاَّ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ اللَّهِ
(Say: "I don't tell you that with me are the treasures of Allah.") meaning, I do not own Allah's treasures or have any power over them,
وَلا أَع...
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ وَلِتَتَّقُوا۟ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
awa'ajibtum an jaaa'akum zikrum mir Rabbikum 'alaa rajulim minkum liyunzirakum wa litattaqoo wa la'allakum turhamoon
Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allah so you might receive mercy."
کیا تم کو اس بات سے تعجب ہوا ہے کہ تم میں سے ایک شخص کے ہاتھ تمہارے پروردگار کی طرف سے تمہارے پاس نصیحت آئی تاکہ وہ تم کو ڈرائے اور تاکہ تم پرہیزگار بنو اور تاکہ تم پر رحم کیا جائے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Here, the answer given was: أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَاءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ وَلِتَتَّقُوا وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿63﴾ (Do you wonder that an advice from your Lord has come to you through a man from among you, so that he may warn you and that you may f...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Do you then deny marvel that a reminder an admonition from your Lord should come to you through the tongue of a man from among you that he may warn you of chastisement if you do not believe and that you may fear God and that you might be shown mercy’ by it?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): أَوَ عَجِبْتُمْ
("Do you wonder..."), do not wonder because of this. Surely, it is not strange that Allah sends down revelation to a man among you as mercy, kindness and compassion for you, so that he warns you that you may avoid Allah's torment by associating none with Him,
وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُون...
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ لَٱسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Qul laaa amliku linafsee naf'anw wa laa darran illaa maa shaaa'al laah; wa law kuntu a'alamul ghaiba lastaksartu minal khairi wa maa massaniyas soo'; in ana illaa nazeerunw wa basheerul liqawminy yu'minoon
Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."
کہہ دو کہ میں اپنے فائدے اور نقصان کا کچھ بھی اختیار نہیں رکھتا مگر جو الله چاہے اور اگر میں غیب کی باتیں جانتا ہوتا تو بہت سے فائدے جمع کرلیتا اور مجھ کو کوئی تکلیف نہ پہنچتی۔ میں تو مومنوں کو ڈر اور خوشخبری سنانے والا ہوں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Verse 188 clears away a common misbelief of the people regarding the prophets of Allah. They thought that the prophets must possess the knowledge of each and everything in the universe, including the knowledge of the unseen future and unknown past. Similarly, they thought that the prophets must ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say ‘I have no power to bring benefit to attract it to myself or hurt to repel it except as God wills. Had I knowledge of the Unseen — that which is hidden from me I would have acquired much good and adversity in the way of impoverishment and otherwise would not touch me since I would take precautio...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Messenger does not know the Unseen, and He cannot bring Benefit or Harm even to Himself
Allah commanded His Prophet to entrust all matters to Him and to inform, about himself, that he does not know the unseen future, but he knows of it only what Allah informs him. Allah said in another Ayah,
عَـ...
فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ مَا نَرَىٰكَ إِلَّا بَشَرًا مِّثْلَنَا وَمَا نَرَىٰكَ ٱتَّبَعَكَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ أَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِىَ ٱلرَّأْىِ وَمَا نَرَىٰ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِن فَضْلٍۭ بَلْ نَظُنُّكُمْ كَٰذِبِينَ
Faqaalal mala ul lazeena kafaroo min qawmihee ma naraaka illaa basharam mislanaa wa maa naraakat taba'aka illal lazeena hum araazilunaa baadiyar raayi wa maa naraa lakum 'alainaa min fadlim bal nazunnukum kaazibeen
So the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "We do not see you but as a man like ourselves, and we do not see you followed except by those who are the lowest of us [and] at first suggestion. And we do not see in you over us any merit; rather, we think you are liars."
تو ان کی قوم کے سردار جو کافر تھے کہنے لگے کہ ہم تم کو اپنے ہی جیسا ایک آدمی دیکھتے ہیں اور یہ بھی دیکھتے ہیں کہ تمہارے پیرو وہی لوگ ہوئے ہیں جو ہم میں ادنیٰ درجے کے ہیں۔ اور وہ بھی رائے ظاہر سے (نہ غوروتعمق سے) اور ہم تم میں اپنے اوپر کسی طرح کی فضیلت نہیں دیکھتے بلکہ تمہیں جھوٹا خیال کرتے ہیں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Some questions raised by the disbelievers appear in the third verse (27). Before we take these up, let us first look at the meanings of some of the words there.
The word ملا : (mala) generally means a group. Some leading lexicographers say that a group of the chiefs of a people is called: ملا (mala'...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: The council the respected elders of his people who disbelieved said ‘We see you but a mortal like us and you have no merit over us and we see not that any follow you save the vilest among us the riffraff among us such as the weavers and the shoemakers through rash opinion bādiya’l-ra’ya read with ha...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of Nuh and His Conversation with His People
Allah, the Exalted, informs about Prophet Nuh. He was the first Messenger whom Allah sent to the people of the earth who were polytheists involved in worshipping idols. Allah mentions that he (Nuh) said to his people,
إِنَّى لَكُمْ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِي...
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ
Wa laqad arsalnaa Rusulam min qablika wa ja'alnaa lahum azwaajanw wa zurriyyah; wa maa kaana lirasoolin ai yaatiya bi aayatin illaa bi iznil laah; likulli ajalin kitaab
And We have already sent messengers before you and assigned to them wives and descendants. And it was not for a messenger to come with a sign except by permission of Allah. For every term is a decree.
اور (اے محمدﷺ) ہم نے تم سے پہلے بھی پیغمبر بھیجے تھے۔ اور ان کو بیبیاں اور اولاد بھی دی تھی ۔اور کسی پیغمبر کے اختیار کی بات نہ تھی کہ خدا کے حکم کے بغیر کوئی نشانی لائے۔ ہر (حکم) قضا (کتاب میں) مرقوم ہے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
The common thinking of disbelievers and polytheists about a prophet and messenger was that he should be from a species other than human, such as a creation like angels so that their supremacy over the general run of human beings becomes clearly pronounced. The Holy Qur’ an has refuted thi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when they derided him for having many wives the following was revealed And indeed We sent messengers before you and We assigned to them wives and seed children — and you are like them; and it was not for any Messenger from among them that he should bring a sign save by God’s leave because they a...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): All Prophets and Messengers were Humans
Allah says, `Just as We have sent you O Muhammad, a Prophet and a human, We sent the Messengers before you from among mankind, that eat food, walk in the markets, and We gave them wives and offspring.' Allah said to the most honorable and Final Messenger,
قُلْ...
أَوْ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيْتٌ مِّن زُخْرُفٍ أَوْ تَرْقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَن نُّؤْمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا كِتَٰبًا نَّقْرَؤُهُۥ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّى هَلْ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا
Aw yakoona laka baitum min zukhrufin aw tarqaa fis samaaa'i wa lan nu'mina liruqiyyika hatta tunazzila 'alainaa kitaaban naqra'uh; qul Subhaana Rabbee hal kuntu illaa basharar Rasoolaa
Or you have a house of gold or you ascend into the sky. And [even then], we will not believe in your ascension until you bring down to us a book we may read." Say, "Exalted is my Lord! Was I ever but a human messenger?"
یا تو تمہارا سونے کا گھر ہو یا تم آسمان پر چڑھ جاؤ۔ اور ہم تمہارے چڑھنے کو بھی نہیں مانیں گے جب تک کہ کوئی کتاب نہ لاؤ جسے ہم پڑھ بھی لیں۔ کہہ دو کہ میرا پروردگار پاک ہے میں تو صرف ایک پیغام پہنچانے والا انسان ہوں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
A prophetic answer to hostile questions sounding absurd
The questions asked and the demands made in these verses from the Holy Prophet ﷺ were virtually conditions on the fulfillment of which his antagonists were supposed to believe. These conditions are such that anyone who hears them wou...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: or until you come to have a house adorned with gold or ascend into the heaven upon a ladder and even then we will not believe your ascension if you were to ascend into it until you bring down for us therefrom a book in which is confirmed your truthfulness that we may read’. Say to them ‘Glory be to ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Demand of Quraysh for a specific Sign, and the Rejection of that
Ibn Jarir recorded from Muhammad bin Ishaq, "An old man from among the people of Egypt who came to us forty-odd years ago told me, from `Ikrimah, from Ibn `Abbas, that `Utbah and Shaybah -- the two sons of Rabi'ah, Abu Sufyan bin H...
وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ أَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا
Wa maa mana'an naasa any yu'minooo iz jaaa'ahumul hudaaa illaaa an qaalooo aba'asal laahu basharar Rasoolaa
And what prevented the people from believing when guidance came to them except that they said, "Has Allah sent a human messenger?"
اور جب لوگوں کے پاس ہدایت آگئی تو ان کو ایمان لانے سے اس کے سوا کوئی چیز مانع نہ ہوئی کہ کہنے لگے کہ کیا خدا نے آدمی کو پیغمبر کرکے بھیجا ہے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Only a human being can be a messenger of Allah: Angels cannot be sent as messengers to human beings
Common disbelievers and polytheists thought that 'bashar,' that is, a man, could not be the messenger of Allah because he is someone accustomed to all human compulsions like them. When so, what edge d...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And nothing prevented mankind from believing when guidance came to them but that they said that is except their saying in denial ‘Has God sent a human as a messenger from Him?’ instead of sending an angel.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The refusal of the Idolators to believe because the Messenger was a Human -- and its refutation
وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ
(And nothing prevented men) means, most of them,
أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ
(from believing) and following the Messengers, except the fact that they found it strange that human beings would be ...
قُل لَّوْ كَانَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَلَٰٓئِكَةٌ يَمْشُونَ مُطْمَئِنِّينَ لَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَلَكًا رَّسُولًا
Qul law kaana fil ardi malaaa 'ikatuny yamshoona mutma'inneena lanazzalnaa 'alaihim minas samaaa'i malakar Rasoolaa
Say, "If there were upon the earth angels walking securely, We would have sent down to them from the heaven an angel [as a] messenger."
کہہ دو کہ اگر زمین میں فرشتے ہوتے (کہ اس میں) چلتے پھرتے (اور) آرام کرتے (یعنی بستے) تو ہم اُن کے پاس فرشتے کو پیغمبر بنا کر بھیجتے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the last verse (95), it was said that they, despite being human, can-not demand that their messenger should be an angel. This demand was unreasonable. Yes, if angels had been living on the Earth and there was the need to send a messenger to them, then, indeed, an angel would have been sent as a m...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say to them ‘Had there been in the earth instead of humans angels walking and living secure We would have sent down to them from the heaven an angel as Messenger’ for when a messenger is sent to a people he is always of their kind so that they are able to speak to him and understand from him his mes...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The refusal of the Idolators to believe because the Messenger was a Human -- and its refutation
وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ
(And nothing prevented men) means, most of them,
أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ
(from believing) and following the Messengers, except the fact that they found it strange that human beings would be ...
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا
Qul innamaaa ana basharum mislukum yoohaaa ilaiya annamaa ilaahukum Ilaahunw Waahid; faman kaana yarjoo liqaaa'a Rabbihee falya'mal 'amalan saalihanw wa laa yushrik bi'ibaadati Rabbiheee ahadaa
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
کہہ دو کہ میں تمہاری طرح کا ایک بشر ہوں۔ (البتہ) میری طرف وحی آتی ہے کہ تمہارا معبود (وہی) ایک معبود ہے۔ تو جو شخص اپنے پروردگار سے ملنے کی امید رکھے چاہیئے کہ عمل نیک کرے اور اپنے پروردگار کی عبادت میں کسی کو شریک نہ بنائے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
The cause of the revelation of the last verse of Surah al-Kahf: وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا (and must not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord - 110), as mentioned in Hadith reports, shows that shirk at this place means hidden shirk, that is, hypocrisy (رِیَاء : ri...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say ‘I am only a human being a son of Adam like you; it has been revealed to me that your God is only One God annamā the anna assimilated with the mā retains its function of referring to the verbal noun in other words the Oneness of the Divine is what is being revealed to me. So whoever hopes to enc...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Muhammad ﷺ is a Human Being and a Messenger, and the God is One
Allah says to His Messenger Muhammad ,
قُلْ
(Say) to these idolators who reject your message to them,
إِنَّمَآ أَنَاْ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ
(`I am only a man like you.) Whoever claims that I am lying, let him bring something like this that...
لَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّجْوَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ هَلْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ أَفَتَأْتُونَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ
Laahiyatan quloobuhum; wa asarrun najwal lazeena zalamoo hal haazaa illaa basharum mislukum afataa toonas sihra wa antum tubsiroon
With their hearts distracted. And those who do wrong conceal their private conversation, [saying], "Is this [Prophet] except a human being like you? So would you approach magic while you are aware [of it]?"
ان کے دل غفلت میں پڑے ہوئے ہیں اور ظالم لوگ (آپس میں) چپکے چپکے باتیں کرتے ہیں کہ یہ (شخص کچھ بھی) نہیں مگر تمہارے جیسا آدمی ہے۔ تو تم آنکھوں دیکھتے جادو (کی لپیٹ) میں کیوں آتے ہو
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: أَفَتَأْتُونَ السِّحْرَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ (Would you then go along with sorcery while you have eyes to see? - 21:3) Those people used to discuss among themselves secretly that the claim of the Holy Prophet about his prophethood should not be accepted, because he was an ordinary human being lik...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: with their hearts preoccupied heedless of its meanings. And they are secret in their conference their speech they the evildoers alladhīna zalamū a substitution for the third person plural indicator wāw of wa-asarrū’l-najwā ‘and they are secret in conference’ ‘Is this namely Muhammad (s) other than a...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah
The Virtues of Surat Al-Anbiya'
Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdur-Rahman bin Yazid said that `Abdullah said, "Banu Isra'il, Al-Kahf, Maryam, Ta Ha and Al-Anbiya' - they are among the earliest and most beautiful Surahs and they are my treasure."
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ ...
وَمَا جَعَلْنَٰهُمْ جَسَدًا لَّا يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ خَٰلِدِينَ
Wa maa ja'alnaahum jasadal laa yaakuloonat ta'aama wa maa kaanoo khaalideen
And We did not make the prophets forms not eating food, nor were they immortal [on earth].
اور ہم نے ان کے لئے ایسے جسم نہیں بنائے تھے کہ کھانا نہ کھائیں اور نہ وہ ہمیشہ رہنے والے تھے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ (So, ask the people (having the knowledge) of the message, if you do not know. - 21:7) In this verse, scholars of Injil Evangele) and Torah are referred to as أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ (people of the message), who had accepted the Holy Prophet's prop...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We did not make them namely the messengers bodies that did not eat food nay they eat it; and they were not immortal in this world.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Messengers are no more than Human Beings
Here Allah refutes those who denied that human Messengers could be sent:
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُّوحِى إِلَيْهِمْ
(And We sent not before you but men to whom We revealed.) meaning, all the Messengers who came before you were men, huma...
فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَنزَلَ مَلَٰٓئِكَةً مَّا سَمِعْنَا بِهَٰذَا فِىٓ ءَابَآئِنَا ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Faqaalal mala'ul lazeena kafaroo min qawmihee maa haazaaa illaa basharum mislukum yureedu ai yatafaddala 'alaikum wa law shaaa'al laahu la anzala malaaa'ikatam maa sami'naa bihaazaa feee aabaaa'inal awwaleen
But the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to take precedence over you; and if Allah had willed [to send a messenger], He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.
تو ان کی قوم کے سردار جو کافر تھے کہنے لگے کہ یہ تو تم ہی جیسا آدمی ہے۔ تم پر بڑائی حاصل کرنی چاہتا ہے۔ اور اگر خدا چاہتا تو فرشتے اُتار دیتا۔ ہم نے اپنے اگلے باپ دادا میں تو یہ بات کبھی سنی نہیں تھی
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the last benefit, ships and boats are also included, because they are also used in transportation وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى الْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ (And on them and on the boats you are transported - 23:22). All types of mounts which are run with wheels may also be added to fulk (boats) because they rend...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: But the council of his people who disbelieved said to their followers ‘This is just a human being like you who desires to gain superiority to have the honour over you by acquiring followers you being his followers. And had God willed that none other than Him be worshipped He would have sent down ang...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of Nuh, Peace be upon Him; and his people
Allah tells us about Nuh, peace be upon him, whom He sent him to his people to warn them of the severe punishment of Allah and His severe vengeance on those who associated partners with Him, defied His commands and disbelieved His Messengers:
فَقَا...
وَلَئِنْ أَطَعْتُم بَشَرًا مِّثْلَكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّخَٰسِرُونَ
Wa la'in at'atum basharam mislakum innakum izal lakhaasiroon
And if you should obey a man like yourselves, indeed, you would then be losers.
اور اگر تم اپنے ہی جیسے آدمی کا کہا مان لیا تو گھاٹے میں پڑ گئے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the earlier verses the story of Sayyidna Nuh (علیہ السلام) was told who was sent to his people to guide them along the path of righteousness and the following verses contain a brief account of some other prophets without mentioning their names and the people for whose guidance they were sent. Fro...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And by God if you obey a human being like yourselves this clause contains both an oath and a conditional; the response belongs to the former the oath which at the same time suffices in place of a response for the latter the conditional you will surely then that is should you obey them be losers you ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of `Ad or Thamud
Allah tells us that after the people of Nuh, He created another nation. It was said that this was `Ad, because they were the successors of the people of Nuh. Or it was said that they were Thamud, because Allah says:
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ بِالْحَقِّ
(So, the Sayhah ove...
فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَنُؤْمِنُ لِبَشَرَيْنِ مِثْلِنَا وَقَوْمُهُمَا لَنَا عَٰبِدُونَ
Faqaaloo annu'minu libasharaini mislinaa wa qawmuhumaa lanaa 'aabidoon
They said, "Should we believe two men like ourselves while their people are for us in servitude?"
کہنے لگے کہ کیا ہم ان اپنے جیسے دو آدمیوں پر ایمان لے آئیں اور اُن کو قوم کے لوگ ہمارے خدمت گار ہیں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
وَآوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ (and We gave them shelter on a height, a place of rest and running springs). According to Bayan-ul-Qur’ an, this verse refers to the event that a tyrant was resolute to kill Sayyidna ` Isa and his mother (علیہما السلام) right from hi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And they said ‘Shall we believe two humans like ourselves while their people are servile to us?’ obedient and submissive.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of Musa, Peace be upon Him; and Fir`awn
Allah tells us that He sent Musa, peace be upon him, and his brother Harun to Fir`awn and his chiefs with decisive evidence and definitive proof, but Fir`awn and his people were too arrogant to follow them and obey their commands because they were hu...
وَقَالُوا۟ مَالِ هَٰذَا ٱلرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِى فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُۥ نَذِيرًا
Wa qaaloo maa li haazar Rasooli yaakulut ta'aama wa yamshee fil aswaaq; law laaa unzila ilaihi malakun fa yakoona ma'ahoo nazeeraa
And they say, "What is this messenger that eats food and walks in the markets? Why was there not sent down to him an angel so he would be with him a warner?
اور کہتے ہیں کہ یہ کیسا پیغمبر ہے کہ کھاتا ہے اور بازاروں میں چلتا پھرتا ہے۔ کیوں نازل نہیں کیا گیا اس کے پاس کوئی فرشتہ اس کے ساتھ ہدایت کرنے کو رہتا
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
From this point onward the objections raised by infidels and polytheists against the Holy Qur'an and the prophethood of the Holy Prophet ﷺ are related together with the answers to those objections.
The first objection was that the Qur'an was not a revealed book from Allah Ta’ ala, but has...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And they also say ‘What is it with this Messenger that he eats food and walks about in the marketplaces? Why has an angel not been sent down to him so as to be a warner along with him? and confirm his truthfulness.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): What the Disbelievers said about the Messenger , refutation of Their Words, and Their ultimate Destiny
Allah tells us about the disbelievers' stubborn resistance to and rejection of the truth, with no proof or evidence for doing so. Their excuse was, as they said:
مَا لِهَـذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ ال...
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّآ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا
Wa maaa arsalnaa qablaka minal mursaleena illaaa innahum la yaakuloonat ta'aama wa yamshoona fil aswaaq; wa ja'alnaa ba'dakum liba'din fitnatan atasbiroon; wa kaana Rabbuka Baseera
And We did not send before you, [O Muhammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing.
اور ہم نے تم سے پہلے جتنے پیغمبر بھیجے ہیں سب کھانا کھاتے تھے اور بازاروں میں چلتے پھرتے تھے۔ اور ہم نے تمہیں ایک دوسرے کے لئے آزمائش بنایا ہے۔ کیا تم صبر کرو گے۔ اور تمہارا پروردگار تو دیکھنے والا ہے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
In the forgoing verses a general answer was given to the doubts raised by the infidels and polytheists in regard to prophethood of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . Here in the above verses a detailed reply is given to the objections. The gist of the reply is that because of your ignorance and mental ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We did not send before you any messengers but that they ate food and walked in the marketplaces and so you are like them in this respect and truly what was said to them is being said to you. And We have made some of you a trial for others a test trying the rich with the poor the healthy with the...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): فَمَا تَسْتَطِيعُونَ صَرْفاً وَلاَ نَصْراً
(then you can neither avert nor find help.) means: they will not be able to avert the punishment from themselves, nor will they be able to help themselves.
وَمَن يَظْلِم مِّنكُمْ
(And whoever among you does wrong,) means by associating others in worship wit...
مَآ أَنتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا فَأْتِ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ
Maaa anta illaa basharum mislunaa faati bi Aayatin in kunta minas saadiqeen
You are but a man like ourselves, so bring a sign, if you should be of the truthful."
تم اور کچھ نہیں ہماری طرح آدمی ہو۔ اگر سچے ہو تو کوئی نشانی پیش کرو
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَارِهِينَ ﴿149﴾And you hew out houses from the hills with pride. [ 149]
According to Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ ، the word فَارِهِينَ (Farihin) means arrogant and conceited people. But Abu Salih and Imam Raghib have taken this word to mean experts. Th...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And moreover you are just a human being like us. So bring us a sign if you are sincere’ in your Mission.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Response of Thamud, Their Demand for a Sign, and Their Punishment
Allah tells us how Thamud responded to their Prophet Salih, upon him be peace, when he called them to worship their Lord, may He be glorified.
قَالُواْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ
(They said: "You are only of those bewitch...
وَمَآ أَنتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَإِن نَّظُنُّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ
Wa maaa anta illaa basharum mislunaa wa innazunnuka laminal kaazibeen
You are but a man like ourselves, and indeed, we think you are among the liars.
اور تم اور کچھ نہیں ہم ہی جیسے آدمی ہو۔ اور ہمارا خیال ہے کہ تم جھوٹے ہو
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ
And do not make people short of their things - 26:183
What it means is that it is unlawful to reduce any quantity or amount from that which has been contracted with anyone, whether it is a measurable thing or otherwise. Therefore, if a servant or a laborer doe...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: You are just a human being like us. And we indeed in softened in place of the hardened form its subject omitted in other words it would be innahu think that you are one of the liars.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Response of Shu`ayb's People, Their Disbelief in Him and the coming of the Punishment upon Them
Allah tells us how his people responded, and how it was like the response of Thamud to their Messenger -- for they were of like mind -- when they said:
إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ
(You are onl...
قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا تَكْذِبُونَ
Qaaloo maaa antum illaa basharum mislunaa wa maaa anzalar Rahmaanu min shai'in in antum illaa takziboon
They said, "You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies."
وہ بولے کہ تم (اور کچھ) نہیں مگر ہماری طرح کے آدمی (ہو) اور خدا نے کوئی چیز نازل نہیں کی تم محض جھوٹ بولتے ہو
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the next sentence of verse 13: إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ (when the messengers came to it... - 13). The text has briefly mentioned the coming of messengers to the town. The number of the messengers sent ha...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They said ‘You are nothing but humans like us and the Compassionate One has revealed nothing. You are only lying!’
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of the Dwellers of the Town and Their Messengers, a Lesson that Those Who belied Their Messengers were Destroyed
Allah says, `O Muhammad, tell your people who disbelieve in you,'
مَّثَلاً أَصْحَـبَ القَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَآءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ
(a similitude; the Dwellers of the Town, when there ...
إِذْ جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلرُّسُلُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّنَا لَأَنزَلَ مَلَٰٓئِكَةً فَإِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَٰفِرُونَ
Iz jaaa'at humur Rusulu mim baini aydeehim wa min khalfihim allaa ta'budooo illal laaha qaaloo law shaaa'a Rabunaa la anzala malaaa 'ikatan fa innaa bimaaa ursiltum bihee kaafiroon
[That occurred] when the messengers had come to them before them and after them, [saying], "Worship not except Allah." They said, "If our Lord had willed, He would have sent down the angels, so indeed we, in that with which you have been sent, are disbelievers."
جب ان کے پاس پیغمبر ان کے آگے اور پیچھے سے آئے کہ خدا کے سوا (کسی کی) عبادت نہ کرو۔ کہنے لگے کہ اگر ہمارا پروردگار چاہتا تو فرشتے اُتار دیتا سو جو تم دے کر بھیجے گئے ہو ہم اس کو نہیں مانتے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
The basic purpose of these verses is to warn the people of Makkah that if, even after seeing the manifest proofs of the Oneness of Allah, they do not accept the call of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، they may face a punishment like the earlier people of ` Ad and Thamud had faced. In this context, a...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: When the messengers came to them from in front of them and from behind them that is coming to them to warn them and leaving them behind as they departed but they disbelieved as will be stated shortly — the destruction of them meant would only take place in his time — saying ‘Worship none but God’ th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): A Warning to the Disbelievers and a Reminder of the Story of `Ad and Thamud
Allah says: `Say, O Muhammad, to these idolators who disbelieve in the message of truth that you have brought: If you turn away from that which I have brought to you from Allah, then I warn you of the punishment of Allah lik...
فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَبَشَرًا مِّنَّا وَٰحِدًا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّفِى ضَلَٰلٍ وَسُعُرٍ
Faqaalooo a-basharam minnaa waahidan nattabi'uhooo innaa izal lafee dalaalinw wa su'ur
And said, "Is it one human being among us that we should follow? Indeed, we would then be in error and madness.
اور کہا کہ بھلا ایک آدمی جو ہم ہی میں سے ہے ہم اس کی پیروی کریں؟ یوں ہو تو ہم گمراہی اور دیوانگی میں پڑ گئے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Lexicological Analysis
The word سُعُر su'ur has appeared twice in this Surah. First it has appeared in verse 24 in connection with the people of Thamud where it is their own word, and means 'madness or insanity'. The second time, the word appears in connection with the punishment of the sinners wher...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and they said ‘Is it a mortal basharan is in the accusative because it is governed by a succeeding verb alone among us minnā wāhidan are both adjectives of basharan that we are to follow? nattabi‘uhu this explains the verb which renders it basharan ‘mortal’ accusative; the interrogative is meant as ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of Thamud
Allah states here that the people of Thamud denied their Messenger Salih,
فَقَالُواْ أَبَشَراً مِّنَّا وَحِداً نَّتَّبِعُهُ إِنَّآ إِذاً لَّفِى ضَلَـلٍ وَسُعُرٍ
(And they said: "A man, alone among us -- shall we follow him Truly, then we should be in error and distress!") They sa...
قُلْ إِنِّى لَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا رَشَدًا
Qul innee laaa amliku lakum darranw wa laa rashadaa
Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."
(یہ بھی) کہہ دو کہ میں تمہارے حق میں نقصان اور نفع کا کچھ اختیار نہیں رکھتا
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّـهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّـهِ أَحَدًا (...and that masajid (mosques) belong to Allah; so, do not invoke anyone along with Allah....72:18). The word masajid is the plural of masjid. Here the word could be taken in its popular sense, that is, mosques or places of worship d...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say ‘I truly have no power to bring you any harm to lead you astray or any guidance’ any good.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Command to worship Allah Alone and shun Shirk
Allah commands His servants to single Him out alone for worship and that none should be supplicated to along with Him, nor should any partners be associated with Him. As Qatadah said concerning Allah's statement,
وَأَنَّ الْمَسَـجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلاَ تَ...