سُوْرَةُ هُوْدٍ

Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 72

Hud · Meccan · Juz 12 · Page 230

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قَالَتْ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۠ عَجُوزٌ وَهَـٰذَا بَعْلِى شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ ﴿72﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!"

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

قَالَتْ qālat She said
يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ yāwaylatā Woe to me
ءَأَلِدُ a-alidu Shall I bear a child
وَأَنَا۠ wa-anā while I am
عَجُوزٌۭ ʿajūzun an old woman
وَهَـٰذَا wahādhā and this
بَعْلِى baʿlī my husband
شَيْخًا ۖ shaykhan (is) an old man
إِنَّ inna Indeed
هَـٰذَا hādhā this
لَشَىْءٌ lashayon (is) surely a thing
عَجِيبٌۭ ʿajībun amazing

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 72) ➊ { قَالَتْ يٰوَيْلَتٰۤى: } Imam Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said that the phrase {’’ يَا وَيْلَتَا ‘‘} is used by the Arabs when they are astonished at something and consider it extraordinary. Thus, at the time of amazement, they say: {’’ وَيْلُ أُمِّهِ مَا أَرْجَلَهُ ‘‘} "May his mother perish, how manly he is." As for the alif, Tabari's verdict is that this alif is for "nadbah" (expression of grief), and the addition of the taa is because the alif of nadbah after {’’وَيْلٌ‘‘} cannot be as clear and prolonged as it can be with the addition of taa in the middle.

➋ { ءَاَلِدُ وَ اَنَا عَجُوْزٌ … :} The reaction to the first glad tidings was the laughter that appeared on the face of Sarah (peace be upon her). Now, she received the glad tidings of something that was the essence of her lifelong desire, and she received it at a time when, according to worldly means, there was no hope for it. So, Sarah's (peace be upon her) laughter turned into astonishment and fear. She said, will it happen that I will have a child? While I am an old woman and this husband of mine is also old, surely this is a strange thing. The angels had also given this glad tidings to Ibrahim (peace be upon him), as mentioned in Surah Adh-Dhariyat: «{ وَ بَشَّرُوْهُ بِغُلٰمٍ عَلِيْمٍ }» [ الذاریات : ۲۸ ] "And they gave him (Ibrahim, peace be upon him) glad tidings of a boy possessing much knowledge." But here, specifically, the glad tidings are mentioned as being given to his wife and the conversation with her, because from Ibrahim (peace be upon him), Ismail had already been born from Hajar (peace be upon her), but Sarah (peace be upon her) was still childless. From the ancient commentators and Israelite traditions, it is known that at that time, the age of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was one hundred years and the age of Sarah (peace be upon her) was ninety years, but the truth is that we have no reliable source for determining the ages of both. Allah's statement that Sarah (peace be upon her) was {’’ عَجُوْزٌ ‘‘} and her husband was {’’ شَيْخًا ‘‘} is sufficient to understand { ’’ لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيْبٌ ‘‘ }, otherwise Allah would surely have mentioned their ages as well.

➌ This verse is evidence that the one to be sacrificed was Ismail (peace be upon him), because along with the glad tidings of Ishaq (peace be upon him), there was also the glad tidings of a grandson, Yaqub, so the command to sacrifice him does not arise at all. (Qurtubi)

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

72. 1 This was his wife, Lady Sarah, who herself was old, and her husband, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), was also old. Therefore, amazement was a natural matter, which was expressed by her.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

72. She said, "Oh my! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman and this husband of mine is also elderly [83]? This is indeed a strange thing!"

[83] At that time, Lady Sarah was a few years short of one hundred years old, and her menstruation had ceased for a long time, while Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ was a few years over one hundred years old. Therefore, Lady Sarah's words of astonishment were a natural reaction, although they also contained joy in her heart.
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