Surah Al-Hijr (15) — Ayah 17
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
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.
➋ {اِلَّا مَنِ اسْتَرَقَ السَّمْعَ …:} "Sariqah" means theft; in the form of "iftiaal," the meaning is intensified, that is, except the one who tries very hard, or steals in a very secretive manner. {’’ السَّمْعَ ‘‘} The infinitive here means the passive participle, that is, the thing that is heard is stolen. {’’ شِهَابٌ ‘‘} Every illuminating thing that is produced from fire, generally a star that appears to chase like a flame. {’’ شِهَابٌ مُّبِيْنٌ ‘‘} A bright flame. It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who reports from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: [ إِذَا قَضَی اللّٰهُ الْأَمْرَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ضَرَبَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِأَجْنِحَتِهَا خُضْعَانًا لِقَوْلِهِ كَالسِّلْسِلَةِ عَلٰی صَفْوَانٍ ، فَإِذَا فُزِّعَ عَنْ قُلُوْبِهِمْ قَالُوْا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ؟ قَالُوْا لِلَّذِيْ قَالَ الْحَقَّ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيْرُ، فَيَسْمَعُهَا مُسْتَرِقُو السَّمْعِ وَمُسْتَرِقُو السَّمْعِ هٰكَذَا، وَاحِدٌ فَوْقَ آخَرَ ــ وَوَصَفَ سُفْيَانُ بِيَدِهِ وَفَرَّجَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِ يَدِهِ الْيُمْنَی، نَصَبَهَا بَعْضَهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ فَرُبَّمَا أَدْرَكَ الشِّهَابُ الْمُسْتَمِعَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْمِيَ بِهَا إِلٰی صَاحِبِهِ فَيُحْرِقَهٗ، وَرُبَّمَا لَمْ يُدْرِكْهُ حَتّٰی يَرْمِیَ بِهَا إِلَی الَّذِيْ يَلِيْهِ، إِلَی الَّذِيْ هُوَ أَسْفَلُ مِنْهُ حَتّٰی يُلْقُوْهَا إِلَی الْأَرْضِ، فَتُلْقَی عَلٰی فَمِ السَّاحِرِ فَيَكْذِبُ مَعَهَا مِائَةَ كَذْبَةٍ، فَيُصَدَّقُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا؟ فَوَجَدْنَاهُ حَقًّا لِلْكَلِمَةِ الَّتِيْ سُمِعَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ ] [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب قولہ: «إلا من استرق السمع … » : ۴۷۰۱ ] "When Allah issues a command in the sky, the angels, upon hearing His word, begin to flutter their wings in submission and humility (the sound of this word is) like the sound of a chain on a rock. Then, when the fear is removed from their hearts, they ask each other, 'What did your Lord say?' They say, 'He spoke the truth, and He is Most High and Great.' (At that time) the devils who try to eavesdrop hear what is said by the angels, and those who eavesdrop are stacked one above the other," and the narrator of the hadith, Sufyan, demonstrated by spreading the fingers of his right hand one over the other, "Then sometimes the flame reaches the listener before he can quickly convey it to his companion and burns him, and sometimes it reaches when he has already quickly conveyed it to the one below him, until they bring it down to the earth, so the word is conveyed to the soothsayer (fortune-teller) or magician, who mixes it with a hundred lies, so his word is considered true. People say, 'Did he not tell us such and such on such and such a day, and we saw that it was exactly correct,' regarding the matter that was heard from the sky." See also Surah As-Saffat (6,5) and Surah At-Tariq (1 to 4). Remember that the devils can only steal those matters which are related to future events about which the angels are conversing beneath the sky, as is in Sahih Bukhari that the angels converse in the clouds. [ بخاری : 3210 ] But the revelation from Allah to the Prophets is protected so strongly that it is impossible for any devil to hear or steal it; see the commentary of the beginning and end verses of Surah Al-Jinn.
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.
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.
