Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Evil (sins and disobedience to Allâh) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds), that He (Allâh) may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allâh, and begging His Pardon).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ظَهَرَẓaharaHas appeared
ٱلْفَسَادُl-fasāduthe corruption
فِىfīin
ٱلْبَرِّl-barithe land
وَٱلْبَحْرِwal-baḥriand the sea
بِمَاbimāfor what
كَسَبَتْkasabathave earned
أَيْدِىaydī(the) hands
ٱلنَّاسِl-nāsi(of) people
لِيُذِيقَهُمliyudhīqahumso that He may let them taste
بَعْضَbaʿḍaa part
ٱلَّذِىalladhī(of) that which
عَمِلُوا۟ʿamilūthey have done
لَعَلَّهُمْlaʿallahumso that they may
يَرْجِعُونَyarjiʿūnareturn
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 41) ➊ { ظَهَرَالْفَسَادُفِيالْبَرِّوَالْبَحْرِ … :} By land is meant the plains of the earth, mountains, deserts, etc., and by sea is meant the islands of the sea, cities and settlements on the coasts, and ships and boats traveling in the seas. By fasad (corruption) is meant every calamity and misfortune, whether it descends in the form of war, fighting, and bloodshed, or in the form of famine, disease, destruction of crops, hardship, floods, and earthquakes, etc. The meaning of the verse is that the turmoil and corruption prevailing in the land and sea of the world, and the oppression and tyranny being committed under the sky, all are due to shirk. Since people abandoned tawheed and the religion of nature and adopted the ways of shirk, this oppression and corruption have increased. Just as shirk is verbal and doctrinal, it is also practical, which takes the form of immorality and disobedience. The determination that in the verse {’’ بِمَاكَسَبَتْاَيْدِيالنَّاسِ ‘‘} (which people's hands have earned) refers to shirk, is made clear with the next verse, where it is said: «{ قُلْسِيْرُوْافِيالْاَرْضِفَانْظُرُوْاكَيْفَكَانَعَاقِبَةُالَّذِيْنَمِنْقَبْلُكَانَاَكْثَرُهُمْمُّشْرِكِيْنَ }»[ الروم : ۴۲ ] "Say: Travel through the land and see how was the end of those before; most of them were polytheists." The other evils of these nations, which the Qur'an has mentioned and because of which punishment came upon them, their root was also shirk; if they had believed in one Allah, they would never have collectively committed such sins.
➋ On the contrary, the society whose foundation is on Allah's tawheed and the establishment of His commands and limits, upon it descend countless blessings from Allah. See Surah Al-Ma'idah (65, 66) and Al-A'raf (96).
➌ { لِيُذِيْقَهُمْبَعْضَالَّذِيْعَمِلُوْا … :} The full punishment will be given in the Hereafter, but this is a sample of a little torment, so that people may abandon shirk and disobedience and adopt the path of tawheed and obedience. See Surah As-Sajdah (21) and At-Tawbah (126).
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.
41-1. By "land" is meant human settlements, and by "sea" is meant the sea, sea routes, and coastal settlements. "Corruption" refers to every kind of disorder that disrupts peace and tranquility in human societies and settlements, and disturbs their comfort and ease. Therefore, its application to sins and evil deeds is also correct, that people are oppressing each other, violating Allah's limits, breaking moral codes, and murder and bloodshed have become widespread. Its application is also correct to those earthly and heavenly calamities that are sent by Allah as punishment and warning, such as famine, widespread death, fear, and floods, etc. The meaning is that when people make disobedience to Allah their habit, then as a consequence, the direction of people's actions and character is turned towards evil from Allah's side, and the earth becomes filled with corruption, peace and tranquility end, and in their place, fear and terror, looting and plundering, and murder and bloodshed become common. Along with this, sometimes the descent of earthly and heavenly calamities also occurs. The purpose of this is that by seeing this widespread disorder or divine calamities, perhaps people may refrain from sins, repent, and turn back to Allah. On the contrary, in a society whose system is established on obedience to Allah and where Allah's limits are enforced, and justice prevails instead of oppression, there peace and tranquility and the descent of goodness and blessings from Allah occur. Just as it is mentioned in a hadith that establishing one of Allah's limits on earth is better for the people there than forty days of rain. Similarly, there is this hadith that when an evil person dies, not only do people feel relief from him, but also the city, the trees, and the animals find comfort.
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.
41. Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s own hands have earned [47], so that Allah may let them taste some of what they have done [48], so that they might turn back.
[47] The Real Cause of Corruption in the Land:
Here, "land and sea" can refer to the entire Middle East, which at that time had become a center of oppression and corruption due to the wars between Rome and Persia. It can also refer to the region of Arabia, because most of the Arab tribes' profession was fighting, looting, and bloodshed. And if there was any place safe from this corruption, it was only the boundaries of the Sacred Sanctuary of Makkah. The real reason for this oppression, corruption, and rebellion was that these people neither believed in resurrection after death nor in being presented before Allah for accountability and reward or punishment for their deeds. Therefore, everyone was always ready to violate the rights of others for their own personal and worldly interests, and as a result, this land became filled with oppression and injustice.
[48] That is, this corruption appeared because of their own evil deeds. And this was the recompense for their actions. In fact, it was only a small recompense from Allah. And because of this small recompense, the common people were in great distress and their lives had become miserable. And Allah gave them this small punishment so that perhaps even now they might reflect and search for the real cause of this oppression and corruption, and return to the true religion of nature, become fearful of accountability in the Hereafter, and become obedient to Allah.
