سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 80

The Cow · Medinan · Juz 1 · Page 12

وَقَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَةً ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَهْدًا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ ٱللَّهُ عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿80﴾
And they (Jews) say, "The Fire (i.e. Hell-fire on the Day of Resurrection) shall not touch us but for a few numbered days." Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to them): "Have you taken a covenant from Allâh, so that Allâh will not break His Covenant? Or is it that you say of Allâh what you know not?"
وَقَالُوا۟ waqālū And they say
لَن lan Never
تَمَسَّنَا tamassanā will touch us
ٱلنَّارُ l-nāru the Fire
إِلَّآ illā except
أَيَّامًۭا ayyāman (for) days
مَّعْدُودَةًۭ ۚ maʿdūdatan numbered
قُلْ qul Say
أَتَّخَذْتُمْ attakhadhtum Have you taken
عِندَ ʿinda from
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
عَهْدًۭا ʿahdan a covenant
فَلَن falan so never
يُخْلِفَ yukh'lifa will break
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ ʿahdahu His Covenant
أَمْ am Or
تَقُولُونَ taqūlūna (do) you say
عَلَى ʿalā against
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
مَا what
لَا not
تَعْلَمُونَ taʿlamūna you know

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 80) In this verse, the comprehensive misguidance of the Jews is mentioned, in which both the common people and the scholars were involved, meaning: "We are Allah's beloved and dear ones; no matter how many sins we commit, we will not be put into Hell, and even if we are put there, we will be taken out after a few days." Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that once the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked the Jews of Khaybar several questions, one of which was: [ مَنْ أَهْلُ النَّارِ؟ ] "Who are the people who will enter the Fire?" They said: "We will remain in it for a short while, then you will take our place in it." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اِخْسَئُوْا فِيْهَا، لاَ نَخْلُفُكُمْ فِيْهَا أَبَدًا ] "Be driven away into it; we will never take your place in it." [ بخاری، الجزیۃ والموادعۃ، باب إذا غدر المشرکون … : ۳۱۶۹ ]

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, the Jews used to say that the duration of the world is only seven thousand years, and for every thousand years of the world, people will have only one day of punishment in the Hereafter, so it is only seven days, then the punishment will end. Upon this, Allah revealed this verse: «{ وَ قَالُوْا لَنْ تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ اِلَّاۤ اَيَّامًا مَّعْدُوْدَةً [ ابن أبی حاتم بسند حسن : ۱؍۲۱۰ ] Some of them used to say that we will remain in Hell only for as many days as we worshipped the calf. [ مصنف عبد الرزاق عن قتادۃ ]

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.

80. 1 The Jews used to say that the total age of the world is seven thousand years, and for every thousand years, they will stay in Hell for one day; according to this calculation, they will stay in Hell for only seven days. Some used to say that since we worshipped the calf for forty days, we will stay in Hell for forty days. Allah Almighty said: Did you take a covenant from Allah? There is no such covenant with Allah Almighty.

80. 2 That is, your claim is that even if we go to Hell, it will be only for a few days; this is from your own side, and in this way, you attribute such things to Allah for which you yourselves have no knowledge. Ahead, Allah Almighty is stating His principle, according to which, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will recompense the righteous and the wicked according to their good and bad deeds.

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.

And they say, "The Fire will not touch us except for a few numbered days." Say, "Have you taken a covenant [94] with Allah, so that Allah will not break His promise? Or do you say about Allah what you do not know?"

[94]
The Jews’ Misconception About the Punishment of the Hereafter and Its Response:

The belief of the Jews was that since they are the descendants of the Prophets and beloved of Allah, except for a few days, the fire of Hell would not touch them. Allah Almighty has responded to this false belief in several ways, one of which is that Allah commanded the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to ask them what is the basis of this belief? Has Allah taken such a promise from you? If so, then show it. Or do you simply fabricate such lies against Allah? The second response is: O Jews! If you are truly sincere in your claim that you are Allah’s favorites and that except for a few days the fire of Hell will not touch you, then why do you not wish for death, or in other words, why do you not desire to leave the troubles of this world and go to Paradise? And since the Jews are absolutely unwilling to die, rather they wish to remain in this world for a long time, it becomes clear that the Jews are lying in their claim. The third response given to them is that Allah’s law of reward and punishment is the same for everyone. Here, familial relationships will be of no benefit; whoever is surrounded by his evil deeds will certainly go to Hell and will remain there forever. And in this law, O Jews, there is no exception for you.