سُوْرَةُ الْعَنْكَبُوْتِ

Surah Al-Ankaboot (29) — Ayah 2

The Spider · Meccan · Juz 20 · Page 396

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أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿2﴾

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

Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

أَحَسِبَ aḥasiba Do think
ٱلنَّاسُ l-nāsu the people
أَن an that
يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ yut'rakū they will be left
أَن an because
يَقُولُوٓا۟ yaqūlū they say
ءَامَنَّا āmannā We believe
وَهُمْ wahum and they
لَا lā will not be tested
يُفْتَنُونَ yuf'tanūna will not be 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 2) { اَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ اَنْ يُّتْرَكُوْۤا اَنْ يَّقُوْلُوْۤا اٰمَنَّا …:} Before the Hijrah, the Muslims in Makkah Mukarramah were passing through very difficult circumstances; the disbelievers had made their lives unbearable. According to human nature, sometimes the Muslims, unable to bear the calamities, would become anxious, so Allah Almighty said to encourage them: "Do people think that they will be left alone just because they say, 'We believe,' and they will not be tested?" This interrogative is for negation, meaning this cannot happen; rather, there will certainly be a test, so that the truthful may be separated from the liars and the sincere from the hypocrites. According to the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the test is according to the level of faith; the stronger the faith, the harder the test. Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Who among the people has the hardest tests?" So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ أَلْأَنْبِيَاءُ، ثُمَّ الصَّالِحُوْنَ، ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ، فَالْأَمْثَلُ مِنَ النَّاسِ ، يُبْتَلَی الرَّجُلُ عَلٰی حَسَبِ دِيْنِهِ ، فَإِنْ كَانَ فِيْ دِيْنِهِ صَلاَبَةٌ زِيْدَ فِي بَلاَئِهِ، وَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيْ دِيْنِهِ رِقَّةٌ خُفِّفَ عَنْهُ، وَمَا يَزَالُ الْبَلَاءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتّٰی يَمْشِيَ عَلٰی ظَهْرِ الْأَرْضِ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ خَطِيْئَةٌ ] [مسند أحمد : 172/1، ح : ۱۴۸۵۔ ترمذي : ۲۳۹۸، و صححہ الألباني ] "(The hardest tested) are the Prophets, then the righteous, then those who are superior among the people, then those who are next in superiority. A person's test is according to his religion; if there is strength in his religion, his test is increased, and if there is weakness in his religion, it is lightened for him, and a person's test continues until he walks upon the earth in such a state that there is no sin left upon him."

For verses on this subject, see Surah Al-Imran (142 and 179), Al-Baqarah (214), At-Tawbah (16), and Surah Muhammad (31).

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.

2-1. That is, the assumption that after professing faith only verbally, they will be granted (success) without being tested, is not Sahih. Rather, they will be tried and tested through hardships of life and wealth and other trials, so that the genuine and the false, and the believer and the hypocrite, may be distinguished.

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.

2. Do people think that they will be left alone just because they say, “We believe,” and that they will not be tested [1]?

[1] This surah was revealed at a time when mountains of oppression and persecution were being unleashed upon the Muslims in Makkah. There were some people who, although they truly believed in the truth of Islam in their hearts, did not declare their faith out of fear of hardships and difficulties. There were also some Muslims who were very sincere in accepting Islam, but in times of difficulty, they would become anxious. And there was a large group of steadfast believers among the Muslims who were enduring these hardships with great magnanimity and cheerfulness for the sake of Allah’s pleasure. In this verse, all kinds of people are being warned that these very hardships and difficulties are the true test of their faith, and it is through them that it can be known to what extent a person is firm in his claim of faith.
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