سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 44

The Cow · Medinan · Juz 1 · Page 7

۞ أَتَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿44﴾
Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allâh) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah)]! Have you then no sense?
۞ أَتَأْمُرُونَ atamurūna Do you order
ٱلنَّاسَ l-nāsa [the] people
بِٱلْبِرِّ bil-biri [the] righteousness
وَتَنسَوْنَ watansawna and you forget
أَنفُسَكُمْ anfusakum yourselves
وَأَنتُمْ wa-antum while you
تَتْلُونَ tatlūna [you] recite
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۚ l-kitāba the Book
أَفَلَا afalā Then, will not
تَعْقِلُونَ taʿqilūna you use reason

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 44) That is, you command people to act upon the Torah, but you yourself forget that it also contains the command to believe in the Prophet (peace be upon him). [ابن أبي حاتم عن ابن عباس : 122/1، ح : ۴۷۴، ۴۷۵] Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The Children of Israel used to command people to obey Allah and do good, but they themselves would not act, so Allah reproached them." (Abdur Razzaq)

Now the condition of the Muslims has also become like that of the Children of Israel, may Allah have mercy. From this, one should not understand that a person who does not act himself should not command others to do good, because the Jews were reproached for not acting, not for commanding good. And the person who invites others but does not act himself will receive a greater punishment than others. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, a man will be brought, he will be thrown into Hell, and his intestines will come out and pile up in the Fire. He will circle around them as a donkey circles around a millstone. The people of the Fire will gather around him and say, O so-and-so! What is your matter? Did you not command us to do good and forbid us from evil? He will say, I used to command you to do good but did not do it myself, and I used to forbid you from evil but committed it myself." [ بخاری، بدء الخلق، باب صفۃ النار و أنہا مخلوقۃ : ۳۲۶۷، عن أسامۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]

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.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

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.

Do you order righteousness to the people and forget yourselves [63] while you recite the Scripture (the Torah)? Do you not use your reason?

[63] Some Jewish scholars used to say to their relatives who had become Muslim: “Remain firm on this religion (Islam), for this religion is the truth.” However, due to certain worldly interests, they themselves would not become Muslim. Then this verse was revealed, and this command is general for everyone.