Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
See they not that We gradually reduce the land (of the disbelievers, by giving it to the believers, in war victories) from its outlying borders. And Allâh judges, there is none to put back His Judgement and He is Swift at reckoning.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوَلَمْawalamDid not
يَرَوْا۟yarawthey see
أَنَّاannāthat We
نَأْتِىnatīcome
ٱلْأَرْضَl-arḍa(to) the land
نَنقُصُهَاnanquṣuhāreducing it
مِنْminfrom
أَطْرَافِهَا ۚaṭrāfihāits borders
وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuAnd Allah
يَحْكُمُyaḥkumujudges
لَاlā(there is) no
مُعَقِّبَmuʿaqqibaadjuster
لِحُكْمِهِۦ ۚliḥuk'mihi(of) His Judgment
وَهُوَwahuwaAnd He
سَرِيعُsarīʿu(is) Swift
ٱلْحِسَابِl-ḥisābi(in) the reckoning
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 41) ➊ { اَوَلَمْيَرَوْااَنَّانَاْتِيالْاَرْضَ …: } This is a warning for the disbelievers and good news for the Muslims, meaning, have these disbelievers not seen that We are reducing their land from its borders, their cities and regions are coming under the control of the Muslims one after another, and a time is coming when they will have to be expelled even from the center of the land, Umm al-Qura, that is, Makkah. Since the series of Muslim victories in Makkah had not yet begun, some commentators have considered this surah to be Madinan. Allah Almighty has attributed the Muslims’ advance to Himself, because it was only Allah’s religion that was progressing, and the Muslims’ advancement was only with Allah’s help; otherwise, they could never have advanced on their own strength in the face of the united forces of the disbelievers. The expression of Allah’s awe and majesty in describing the Muslims’ advance with the words {’’ اَنَّانَاْتِي ‘‘} (“Our coming”) is a unique feature of Allah’s speech, as He said: «{ فَاَتَىاللّٰهُبُنْيَانَهُمْمِّنَالْقَوَاعِدِفَخَرَّعَلَيْهِمُالسَّقْفُمِنْفَوْقِهِمْوَاَتٰىهُمُالْعَذَابُمِنْحَيْثُلَايَشْعُرُوْنَ }»[ النحل : ۲۶ ] “(That is, those before them had plotted) so Allah came upon their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above, and the punishment came upon them from where they did not perceive.” This is the reality that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) expressed while standing on Safa and Marwah in these words: [ لَاإِلٰهَإِلَّااللّٰهُوَحْدَهُأَنْجَزَوَعْدَهُوَنَصَرَعَبْدَهُوَهَزَمَالْأَحْزَابَوَحْدَهُ ][ مسلم، الحج، باب حجۃ النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ۱۲۱۸ ] “There is none worthy of worship except Allah, He fulfilled His promise, helped His servant, and He alone defeated all the groups.” It is astonishing about the disbelievers that even after seeing that the circle of Islam is expanding day by day and disbelief and polytheism are shrinking, they do not accept Islam. According to Allah’s glad tidings, then that time came when the banner of Islam was raised to the ends of the east and west, and according to the prophecy of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), that time is surely coming, as Miqdad bin al-Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from him (peace and blessings be upon him): I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: [لاَيَبْقَیعَلَیظَهْرِالْأَرْضِبَيْتُمَدَرٍوَلاَوَبَرٍإِلاَّأَدْخَلَهٗاللّٰهُكَلِمَةَالْإِسْلاَمِبِعِزِّعَزِيْزٍأَوْذُلِّذَلِيْلٍإِمَّايُعِزُّهُمُاللّٰهُعَزَّوَجَلَّفَيَجْعَلُهُمْمِنْأَهْلِهَاأَوْيُذِلُّهُمْفَيَدِيْنُوْنَلَهَا ][ أحمد : 4/6، ح : ۲۳۸۷۶ وصححہ الألبانی ] “There will not remain a house (or tent) made of bricks or hair on the surface of the earth except that Allah will cause the word of Islam to enter it, honoring those who are honorable and humiliating those who are humiliated; either He will honor them and include them among those who recite this word, or He will humiliate them and they will become subjugated to it.” See also Surah Al-Anbiya (44). ➋ { وَاللّٰهُيَحْكُمُلَامُعَقِّبَلِحُكْمِهٖ:} Because only one who is dominant over Him can review and change His decision, whereas no such being exists anywhere. ➌ { وَهُوَسَرِيْعُالْحِسَابِ :} That is, the time for His reckoning is coming very swiftly, so much so that when it comes, the criminals will swear that they remained in the world only for an hour. (Ar-Rum: 55) The second meaning is that it does not take Him even a moment’s delay in taking account; rather, on the Day of Resurrection, the entire reckoning will be presented in an instant.
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.
41. 1. That is, the land of Arabia is gradually becoming constrained for the polytheists and Islam is gaining dominance and ascendancy. 41. 2. That is, no one can reject the commands of Allah.
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.
41. Do they not see that We are gradually reducing the land from its borders [53]? Allah decides; there is none to revise His decision. And He is swift in taking account.
[53] What is Meant by the Earth Being Diminished from All Sides?
That is, Islam is spreading in all directions, and the land of disbelief is shrinking and diminishing from every side, and its circle is becoming narrower and narrower. Granting dominance to Islam and spreading it is a matter that Allah has already decided, which no power can prevent. And as Islam spreads, life becomes increasingly difficult for them.
