سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ

Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 46

The Ant · Meccan · Juz 19 · Page 381

قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿46﴾
He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allâh’s Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allâh, that you may receive mercy?"
قَالَ qāla He said
يَـٰقَوْمِ yāqawmi O my people
لِمَ lima Why
تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ tastaʿjilūna (do) you seek to hasten
بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ bil-sayi-ati the evil
قَبْلَ qabla before
ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ l-ḥasanati the good
لَوْلَا lawlā Why not
تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ tastaghfirūna you ask forgiveness
ٱللَّهَ l-laha (of) Allah
لَعَلَّكُمْ laʿallakum so that you may
تُرْحَمُونَ tur'ḥamūna receive mercy

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 46) ➊ By {قَالَ يٰقَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُوْنَ…: ’’ اَلسَّيِّئَةُ ‘‘} is meant punishment, and by {’’ الْحَسَنَةِ ‘‘} is meant mercy. When Salih (peace be upon him) warned his people of Allah’s punishment, instead of fearing it, they made a mockery of it and began to demand that it be brought upon them quickly. Salih (peace be upon him) very gently and lovingly addressed them as “O my people!” and advised them that instead of seeking goodness and mercy from Allah, why are you hastening to ask for punishment from Him? There was a lesson in this incident for the people of Makkah as well, because they too used to demand the coming of punishment quickly from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), as Allah the Exalted said: «{ وَ يَسْتَعْجِلُوْنَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَ لَوْ لَاۤ اَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى لَّجَآءَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَ لَيَاْتِيَنَّهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَّ هُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ [ العنکبوت : ۵۳ ] “And they ask you to hasten the punishment, and if there had not been a fixed term, the punishment would certainly have come upon them, and surely it will come upon them suddenly while they are unaware.” To the extent that they even said: «{ اللّٰهُمَّ اِنْ كَانَ هٰذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَاَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ [ الأنفال : ۳۲ ] “O Allah! If this is indeed the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky.”
{ لَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ۠ اللّٰهَ … :} That is, why do you not take advantage of the respite granted by the delay in punishment to seek forgiveness for your sins from Allah the Exalted, so that mercy may be shown to you, because once the punishment comes, repentance and seeking forgiveness will be of no benefit.

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.

46-1. That is, instead of accepting faith, why do you persist in disbelief, which is a cause of punishment? Moreover, due to your stubbornness and rebellion, you also used to say, "Bring the punishment upon us." In response to this, Prophet Salih (علیہ السلام) said this.

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.

46. (Salih) said: "O my people! Why do you seek evil before good? Why do you not seek forgiveness from Allah [46] so that you may receive mercy?"

[46] The opponents or influential people, since they deny the very prophethood of the prophet, therefore consider everything he says to be false. The prophet invites them to good deeds and urges them to repent and seek forgiveness for the evil deeds they have already committed. He also warns them of the evil consequences of bad deeds and the punishment of Allah. But the arrogant people say to the prophet: if you are truthful, then why has the punishment you keep mentioning not yet come upon us? And as for the things that should be done—seeking forgiveness and mercy from Allah—they do not pay any attention to them. Salih ؑ criticized them for this very attitude.