سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 104

The Cow · Medinan · Juz 1 · Page 16

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اُردوEn
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقُولُوا۟ رَٰعِنَا وَقُولُوا۟ ٱنظُرْنَا وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿104﴾

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

O you who believe! Say not (to the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم) Râ‘ina but say Unzurna (make us understand) and hear. And for the disbelievers there is a painful torment. (See Verse 4:46)

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا yāayyuhā O you
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna who
ءَامَنُوا۟ āmanū believe[d]
لَا lā (Do) not
تَقُولُوا۟ taqūlū say
رَٰعِنَا rāʿinā Raina
وَقُولُوا۟ waqūlū and say
ٱنظُرْنَا unẓur'nā Unzurna
وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ wa-is'maʿū and listen
وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ walil'kāfirīna And for the disbelievers
عَذَابٌ ʿadhābun (is) a punishment
أَلِيمٌۭ alīmun painful

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 104) {رَاعِنَا:} { ”رَاعِ“ } This is a verb in the imperative form from the "mufa‘alah" (mutual consideration) pattern, meaning "show consideration to us." The Muslims used this word to address the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to get his attention. The Jews also addressed him with this word, but they would twist their tongues and change the word, as mentioned in Surah An-Nisa (4:46), turning it into an insult. The commentators have described two ways they did this: one is that instead of {’’ رَاعِنَا ‘‘}, they would say { ”رَاعِيْنَا“ }, which means "our shepherd." The second is that they would consider it as an active participle from "ra‘unah" and say { ”رَاعِنًا“ }, which means "fool," and because the addressee is indefinite, it is accusative, and then they would rejoice among themselves. Allah Almighty forbade the Muslims from using this word for him at all and commanded them to say { ”انْظُرْنَا“ }, and also said to listen attentively so that there would be no need to get the attention of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). This clearly shows the enmity of the Jews, the baseness of their nature, and their mischief. Muslims were forbidden not only from their actions but also from resembling their words and statements, as narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ ] "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." [ أبوداوٗد، اللباس، باب فی لبس الشھرۃ : ۴۰۳۱ و حسنہ الألبانی ]

From this verse, it is also understood that it is not permissible to use such words in which there is even a suspicion of disrespect or insolence. Another example of the Jews' meanness is mentioned in the hadith, that instead of "as-salamu ‘alaykum," they would say {’’اَلسَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ ‘‘}, which means "death be upon you." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed to reply to them with only {’’عَلَيْكَ ‘‘}, meaning "upon you." [ مسلم، السلام، باب النہی عن ابتداء … : ۲۱۶۴ ]

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.

14. 1. رَاعِنَا means, "Take care of us and pay attention to us." When something was not understood, the listener would use this word to draw the speaker's attention. However, due to their malice and stubbornness, the Jews would slightly distort this word when using it, which would change its meaning and satisfy their feeling of enmity. For example, they would say رَعِینَا (meaning 'foolish') etc., just as they would say السام علیکم (death be upon you) instead of السلام علیکم. Allah Almighty said, you should say "انْظُرْنَا". From this, one ruling is understood: words that carry a hint of disrespect or insult should not be used out of regard for etiquette and respect. The second ruling established is that one should avoid imitating the actions and words of the disbelievers, so that Muslims do not fall under the warning of the hadith, "Whoever imitates a people is one of them" (Abu Dawood).

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.

104. O you who believe! Do not say "Ra‘ina," but say "Unzurna" instead, and listen attentively. [123] And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.

[123]
The Mischief of the Jews in Saying «راعِيْنَا»:

Whenever the Jews would sit in your gathering and listen to your teachings, and if there was a need to hear or understand something again, instead of saying «رَاعِنَا» out of enmity, they would twist their tongues and say «راعِيْنَا». «رَاعِنَا» means "pay attention to us," that is, "please repeat the matter," while rā‘īnā means "our shepherd." Allah Almighty, informing the Muslims of the mischief of the Jews, said that you should stop saying «رَاعِنَا», and instead say «اُنْظُرْنَا » (which has the same meaning as ra‘ina). If you listen attentively the first time so that there is no need to say unzurna, that is even better. And these mischievous Jews are indeed disbelievers, who are certainly deserving of a painful punishment.
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