Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 26
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 {فَاَتَى اللّٰهُ بُنْيَانَهُمْ مِّنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ …: ’’ بُنْيَانٌ بَنَي يَبْنِيْ ‘‘} (ḍ) is a verbal noun in the meaning of a passive participle, a constructed building. {’’ الْقَوَاعِدِ ‘‘ ’’ قَاعِدَةٌ ‘‘} is the plural, foundations. Its exegesis is done in two ways: one is that this is a parable, that is, an abstract thing is explained by likening it to something visible, meaning just as a person builds a building and another person secretly hollows out its foundations so that the roof collapses and the builder is killed under his own roof. In the same way, the disbelievers built castles of makr (conspiracy) against the messengers and the believers, but Allah shook the foundations of their castles in such a way that their roofs also fell upon them. Just as it is said that whoever digs a well for another falls into it himself. Here, an actual well is not necessary. Many commentators have given this meaning, and Razi has preferred it.
The second exegesis is that those who conspired against the messengers, the buildings in which they lived, Allah gave such a jolt of earthquake to their foundations, or surrounded them in such a flood, that their roofs fell upon them and they were killed beneath them, thus Allah’s punishment overtook them from a place they could not even imagine, as Allah said: «{ فَكُلًّا اَخَذْنَا بِذَنْۢبِهٖ فَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ اَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَ مِنْهُمْ مَّنْ اَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَّنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الْاَرْضَ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَّنْ اَغْرَقْنَا }» [ العنکبوت : ۴۰ ] “So We seized each one for his sin; among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those whom the blast seized, and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned.” The Imam of the commentators, Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him), has preferred this meaning and said that when the apparent meaning of the words can be intended and there is no problem in it, then what is the need to go towards parable? Thus, what is impossible in the fact that many disbelievers died under the roofs of their own houses, which they considered very strong? Some time ago, in Ramadan 1426 AH, in the terrible earthquake of Kashmir, countless multi-story buildings sank into the ground, many fell upon their inhabitants, and after that, in Ramadan 1431 AH, due to the flood in Pakistan, entire cities were badly affected, so much so that almost half of Pakistan came under the flood; all this is before our eyes. [ اَللّٰھُمَّ لَا تَقْتُلْنَا بِغَضَبِکَ وَلَا تُھْلِکْنَا بِعَذَابِکَ وَ عَافِنَا قَبْلَ ذٰلِکَ ]
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.
26. 2. "So Allah's (punishment) came upon them from a place they did not even imagine."
26. 3. So Allah's punishment came upon them from a place they did not even imagine.
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.
[26]
The Anti-Islam Activities of the Quraysh:
The Quraysh of Makkah did not merely try to keep people away from Islam by spreading false propaganda among them. Rather, they continued to devise various schemes to stop Islam. They would inflict undue hardships upon those who embraced Islam, harass them, impose restrictions on entering the House of Allah and especially on performing Tawaf, place bans and threats on reciting the Quran aloud, and then enforce social boycott. They were doing all this so that they could completely eradicate Islam and its message. Allah Almighty said that people before them also plotted similar schemes against the call to truth and built lofty and strong fortresses of their plots. But when Allah’s punishment came, the fortresses of their schemes were uprooted from their very foundations and fell to the ground. They themselves became trapped in their own schemes in such a way that they could never have imagined.
