سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ

Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 47

The Ant · Meccan · Juz 19 · Page 381

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قَالُوا۟ ٱطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ وَبِمَن مَّعَكَ ۚ قَالَ طَـٰٓئِرُكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تُفْتَنُونَ ﴿47﴾

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

They said: "We augur ill omen from you and those with you." He said: "Your ill omen is with Allâh; nay, but you are a people that are being tested."

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

قَالُوا۟ qālū They said
ٱطَّيَّرْنَا iṭṭayyarnā We consider you a bad omen
بِكَ bika We consider you a bad omen
وَبِمَن wabiman and those
مَّعَكَ ۚ maʿaka with you
قَالَ qāla He said
طَـٰٓئِرُكُمْ ṭāirukum Your bad omen
عِندَ ʿinda (is) with
ٱللَّهِ ۖ l-lahi Allah
بَلْ bal Nay
أَنتُمْ antum you
قَوْمٌۭ qawmun (are) a people
تُفْتَنُونَ tuf'tanūna being tested

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 47) ➊ {قَالُوا اطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ …:’’ اطَّيَّرْنَا ‘‘} is originally {’’تَطَيَّرْنَا‘‘}, (we took an evil omen) by making the tā’ silent and merging it into the ṭā’, and due to the first letter becoming silent, a hamzat al-waṣl was added at the beginning. Because of the merging, there is an emphasis in the meaning of taking an evil omen. Those who denied Sālih (peace be upon him) said that we have taken an evil omen with you and your companions, and we have found you to be unlucky, as calamities and misfortunes constantly befall us. We are certain that you and your companions are the cause of this. When various punishments came upon the people of Pharaoh, they also said the same thing: «{ فَاِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوْا لَنَا هٰذِهٖ وَ اِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَّطَّيَّرُوْا بِمُوْسٰى وَ مَنْ مَّعَهٗ }» [ الأعراف : ۱۳۱ ] “So when prosperity came to them, they said, ‘This is for us,’ and if any adversity befell them, they took an evil omen with Moses and those with him.” The people of the town mentioned in Surah Yā Sīn also said the same to their messengers: «{ اِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ لَىِٕنْ لَّمْ تَنْتَهُوْا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَ لَيَمَسَّنَّكُمْ مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌ}» [ یٰسٓ : ۱۸ ] “Indeed, we consider you a bad omen; if you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and a painful punishment from us will surely touch you.” The disbelievers also used to say the same to our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): «{ وَ اِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَّقُوْلُوْا هٰذِهٖ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ وَ اِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَّقُوْلُوْا هٰذِهٖ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ فَمَالِ هٰۤؤُلَآءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُوْنَ يَفْقَهُوْنَ حَدِيْثًا }» [ النساء : ۷۸ ] “And if any good befalls them, they say, ‘This is from Allah,’ and if any evil befalls them, they say, ‘This is from you.’ Say, ‘All is from Allah.’ So what is [the matter] with these people that they can hardly understand any statement?”
➋ {قَالَ طٰٓىِٕرُكُمْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ:} For its explanation, see the commentary of Surah Al-A‘rāf (131).
➌ { بَلْ اَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ تُفْتَنُوْنَ:} That is, the cause of your misfortunes is not our being unlucky, but the real cause is that now your test has begun, whether you take a lesson from calamities and misfortunes and accept faith, or persist in disbelief.

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.

47-1. When the Arabs intended to do something or to travel, they would make a bird fly; if it flew to the right, they considered it a good omen and would proceed with the task or set out on the journey, and if it flew to the left, they considered it a bad omen and would refrain from that task or journey (Fath al-Qadeer). In Islam, this practice of bad and good omens is not permissible, however, seeking a positive sign (faal) is permissible.

47-2. That is, the believers are not the cause of misfortune as you think, rather its real cause is only with Allah, because decree and destiny are in His control. The meaning is that the misfortune that has befallen you is from Allah, and its cause is your disbelief. (Fath al-Qadeer)

47-3. Or, by giving you respite in misguidance, you are being tested.

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.

47. They said, "We consider you and those with you a bad omen." (Salih) replied: "Your omen is with Allah; rather, you are a people being tested [48]."

[47] This verse can have two meanings: one is that ever since you have staged your claim to prophethood, we have been constantly afflicted by one calamity or another. The second meaning is that previously we were all one nation, but you came and created division among us, making our lives miserable. All this misfortune is because of you, and this was the same objection the disbelievers of Makkah had against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
[48] This verse also has two meanings: one is that whenever a calamity befalls you from time to time, it comes as a warning for you and you are given some more respite to come to your senses. The second is that since the nation has now split into two factions, this itself is a test for you—to see whether you support the truth or falsehood, and if you support falsehood, to what extent you show your zeal in it.
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