سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ

Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 33

Sheba · Meccan · Juz 22 · Page 432

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ بَلْ مَكْرُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿33﴾
Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day: when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allâh and set up rivals to Him!" And each of them (parties) will conceal their own regrets (for disobeying Allâh during this worldly life), when they behold the torment. And We shall put iron collars round the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught except what they used to do?
وَقَالَ waqāla And will say
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ us'tuḍ'ʿifū were oppressed
لِلَّذِينَ lilladhīna to those who
ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ is'takbarū were arrogant
بَلْ bal Nay
مَكْرُ makru (it was) a plot
ٱلَّيْلِ al-layli (by) night
وَٱلنَّهَارِ wal-nahāri and (by) day
إِذْ idh when
تَأْمُرُونَنَآ tamurūnanā you were ordering us
أَن an that
نَّكْفُرَ nakfura we disbelieve
بِٱللَّهِ bil-lahi in Allah
وَنَجْعَلَ wanajʿala and we set up
لَهُۥٓ lahu for Him
أَندَادًۭا ۚ andādan equals
وَأَسَرُّوا۟ wa-asarrū But they will conceal
ٱلنَّدَامَةَ l-nadāmata the regret
لَمَّا lammā when
رَأَوُا۟ ra-awū they see
ٱلْعَذَابَ l-ʿadhāba the punishment
وَجَعَلْنَا wajaʿalnā And We will put
ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ l-aghlāla shackles
فِىٓ on
أَعْنَاقِ aʿnāqi (the) necks
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna (of) those who
كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ kafarū disbelieved
هَلْ hal Will
يُجْزَوْنَ yuj'zawna they be recompensed
إِلَّا illā except
مَا (for) what
كَانُوا۟ kānū they used to
يَعْمَلُونَ yaʿmalūna do

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 33) ➊ { بَلْ مَكْرُ الَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ … : ’’أَيْ بَلْ صَدَّنَا عَنِ الْهُدٰي مَكْرُكُمْ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ‘‘} That is, the weak will say to those leaders that not only were we guilty and you had no part in preventing us from guidance, but in reality, your day and night schemes and conspiracies kept us away from the right path. When you used to command us to disbelieve in Allah and associate partners with Him.

{ وَ اَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَاَوُا الْعَذَابَ :} That is, both parties will accuse each other, but both will be regretful over their disbelief, yet will try to hide their remorse and regret.

{وَ جَعَلْنَا الْاَغْلٰلَ فِيْۤ اَعْنَاقِ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا :} Through this mutual argument, both parties will realize that both are guilty and their argument is futile. Therefore, We will give both the same punishment; collars will be put around their necks and iron chains on their feet, and they will be thrown into Hell.

{ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ اِلَّا مَا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ :} That is, this punishment will be the recompense for their own deeds.

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.

33. 1. That is, we would have been guilty only if we had denied the messengers by our own choice, whereas the reality is that you kept urging us day and night to go astray, to disbelieve in Allah, and to associate partners with Him, as a result of which we followed you and were deprived of faith.

33. 2. That is, they will blame each other, but in their hearts, both parties will be ashamed of their own disbelief, yet due to the gloating of the enemies, they will refrain from expressing it.

33. 3. That is, such chains that will bind their hands to their necks.

33. 4. That is, both will receive the punishment for their deeds, the leaders according to their deeds and their followers according to theirs, as stated elsewhere (لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَّلٰكِنْ) 7. Al-A'raf:38), that each will have double the punishment.

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.

And those who were considered weak will say to those who were arrogant, "No, it was your plotting by day and night when you commanded us [50] to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals to Him." But when they see the punishment, they will hide their remorse [51], and We will place iron iron collars around the necks of the disbelievers. They will only be recompensed for what they used to do.

[50] Now the common people will address their leaders and chiefs in this way: It was your day and night propaganda that influenced us; every day you brought a new trap to ensnare us. You kept using the name of Islam, but in reality, you only wanted your own rule and your own leadership. Your false propaganda drove us mad, and we kept supporting you, thinking you were sincere. Therefore, you are the cause of our misguidance.
[51] From the dialogue between these two groups, each party will realize that both are at fault. And this dialogue is merely argument for the sake of argument. Therefore, We will give both of them the same punishment: iron iron collars will be placed around their necks and chains on their feet, and they will be thrown into Hell.