سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ

Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 5

Sheba · Meccan · Juz 22 · Page 428

وَٱلَّذِينَ سَعَوْ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا مُعَـٰجِزِينَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مِّن رِّجْزٍ أَلِيمٌ ﴿5﴾
But those who strive against Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to frustrate them - those, for them will be a severe painful torment.
وَٱلَّذِينَ wa-alladhīna But those who
سَعَوْ saʿaw strive
فِىٓ against
ءَايَـٰتِنَا āyātinā Our Verses
مُعَـٰجِزِينَ muʿājizīna (to) cause failure
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ulāika those
لَهُمْ lahum for them
عَذَابٌۭ ʿadhābun (is) a punishment
مِّن min of
رِّجْزٍ rij'zin foul nature
أَلِيمٌۭ alīmun painful

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.

The meaning of {وَ الَّذِيْنَ سَعَوْ فِيْۤ اٰيٰتِنَا مُعٰجِزِيْنَ … : ’’ رِجْزٍ ‘‘} is {’’أَسْوَأُ الْعَذَابِ‘‘} (the worst punishment), that is, those people whose effort is to defeat and humble Our verses, sometimes calling them magic, sometimes poetry, and sometimes tales of the ancients, so that they may prevent people from believing in them—for them is the punishment of the worst kind, which is extremely painful. The reference is to Hell, than which there is no punishment more evil and painful.

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.

5. 1. That is, the denial and rejection of Our verses which We revealed to the prophets, thinking that We would be unable to seize them, because their belief was that after death, when we mix with the dust, how will we be resurrected and held accountable for what we have done? Their thinking was, in effect, a declaration that Allah Almighty would not be able to call us to account, so why should we fear the Day of Judgment?

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.

But those who strive to discredit [8] Our verses, for them is a most severe and painful punishment.

[8] That is, they spent their entire lives in such conspiracies and efforts so that Islam would not gain dominance and honor, or they mock the belief in the Hereafter as explained by Allah. They cannot escape Allah’s grasp, and they will be given a punishment of the same kind in return for their impure intentions. In the previous verses, both honorable provision and forgiveness were mentioned for the believers, from which it is understood that those believers who spent their lives in hardship, difficulties, and poverty will receive honorable sustenance as well as forgiveness, and those believers who did not have to face times of trial will also certainly be forgiven. Similarly, those disbelievers whose crime was limited only to disbelief and who did not participate in hostile and antagonistic activities and conspiracies, for them there will only be the punishment of Hell, which will not be of a filthy kind nor one that humiliates and disgraces.