سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ

Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 17

The Prophets · Meccan · Juz 17 · Page 323

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لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَّٱتَّخَذْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ إِن كُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ ﴿17﴾

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

Had We intended to take a pastime (i.e. a wife or a son), We could surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that).

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

لَوْ law If
أَرَدْنَآ aradnā We intended
أَن an that
نَّتَّخِذَ nattakhidha We take
لَهْوًۭا lahwan a pastime
لَّٱتَّخَذْنَـٰهُ la-ittakhadhnāhu surely We (could have) taken it
مِن min from
لَّدُنَّآ ladunnā Us
إِن in if
كُنَّا kunnā We were
فَـٰعِلِينَ fāʿilīna doers

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 17) ➊ { لَوْ اَرَدْنَاۤ اَنْ نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا …:} That is, hypothetically, if We had made something for Our amusement and play, We would have made it with Us, and you would not have known about it, because amusement and play are matters of deficiency and imperfection, so We would not have let it come before anyone’s eyes. So how could We have made these heavens and earth, which are always before you, for play and amusement? All this is hypothetical. Allah Almighty is so Merciful and Generous that He has spoken according to the mental level of man to make his limited intellect understand and to satisfy him in every way, otherwise it is not possible at all that Allah Almighty would intend such a thing, because the word {’’لَوْ ‘‘} is used only to express something impossible.

➋ Tabari has narrated with an authentic chain from Mujahid the meaning of {’’ لَاتَّخَذْنٰهُ مِنْ لَّدُنَّا ‘‘} that We would have made this amusement and play with Us, and would not have created Paradise and Hell, nor death and the Resurrection. That is, then what was the need to create the heavens and the earth, mankind, jinn, and the system of reward and punishment for them. See Surah Al-Mu’minun (115), Surah Sad (27), and Surah Al-Mulk (2).

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.

17. 1. That is, We would have made some things for play from Our own selves and would have fulfilled Our own desire. What was the need to create such a vast universe and then to create living and conscious beings?

17. 2. "If We were to do so" — according to the Arabic style, this is more correct than the translation "We are not to do so." (Fath al-Qadeer).

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.

The tafsir of this ayah is included with the following verse(s).
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