Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He it is Who has made you successors generations after generations in the earth, so whosoever disbelieves (in Islâmic Monotheism) on him will be his disbelief. And the disbelief of the disbelievers adds nothing but hatred of their Lord. And the disbelief of the disbelievers adds nothing but loss.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
هُوَhuwaHe
ٱلَّذِىalladhī(is) the One Who
جَعَلَكُمْjaʿalakummade you
خَلَـٰٓئِفَkhalāifasuccessors
فِىfīin
ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚl-arḍithe earth
فَمَنfamanAnd whoever
كَفَرَkafaradisbelieves
فَعَلَيْهِfaʿalayhithen upon him
كُفْرُهُۥ ۖkuf'ruhu(is) his disbelief
وَلَاwalāAnd not
يَزِيدُyazīduincrease
ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَl-kāfirīnathe disbelievers
كُفْرُهُمْkuf'ruhumtheir disbelief
عِندَʿindanear
رَبِّهِمْrabbihimtheir Lord
إِلَّاillāexcept
مَقْتًۭا ۖmaqtan(in) hatred
وَلَاwalāand not
يَزِيدُyazīduincrease
ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَl-kāfirīnathe disbelievers
كُفْرُهُمْkuf'ruhumtheir disbelief
إِلَّاillāexcept
خَسَارًۭاkhasāran(in) loss
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 39) ➊ { هُوَالَّذِيْجَعَلَكُمْخَلٰٓىِٕفَفِيالْاَرْضِ :} Reflect on His favor and your disbelief and ingratitude; see His kindness that He caused the previous generation to die and made you successors in their place, and made you owners of the earth and all that is in it. (To understand the meaning of "khalifah," see the commentary of Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah (30) {’’ اِنِّيْجَاعِلٌفِيالْاَرْضِخَلِيْفَةً ‘‘}). If, with every new generation, all the previous generations also remained, there would be neither space to live on earth nor would their needs be fulfilled. In return for this favor, you showed ingratitude, refused to acknowledge His kindness, and associated partners with Him—those who neither created anything nor have any share in the creation or ownership of the earth, and you began to call upon them.
➋ { فَمَنْكَفَرَفَعَلَيْهِكُفْرُهٗ :} So whoever is ungrateful for this blessing and refuses to acknowledge His favor and accept His commands, the consequence of his ingratitude and denial will fall upon him alone; no one else will be harmed by it.
➌ { وَلَايَزِيْدُالْكٰفِرِيْنَكُفْرُهُمْعِنْدَرَبِّهِمْاِلَّامَقْتًا … :} That is, if the disbelievers, despite their disbelief, have been granted succession on earth, and have been given wealth, children, and other blessings along with long life, and their rope has been extended, then do not think that Allah is pleased with them, that is why He is giving them blessings, nor think that they are making a profitable deal in this way. The reality is that the disbelief of these disbelievers is only increasing Allah’s severe wrath upon them, and with Allah, their loss is only increasing because this is completing the proof against them and removing their excuses.
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.
39. 1. That is, disbelief will not bring any benefit with Allah; rather, it will only increase Allah's wrath and displeasure, and the loss to the person's own soul will also be greater.
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.
39. He it is Who made you successors in the earth [43]. So whoever disbelieves, his disbelief will be against himself. And the disbelief of the disbelievers only increases them in the sight of their Lord in wrath, or their disbelief only increases them in loss.
[43] Whose Vicegerent is Man on Earth?
This phrase can have several meanings. One is that, as a consequence of the crimes of the previous nations, they were destroyed and you were made their successors. Another is that when the previous generation died, you became their successors in their place. The third meaning is that the real owner and ruler of this universe, and likewise of this earth, is Allah Almighty, and you have been sent here in the capacity of His deputy. And you have been sent so that you use the things granted by Him according to His command and His will. Or, you become rebellious and start following your own desires. And if you misuse the powers given by Allah Almighty against His will, then this will be a breach of trust, and you will have to bear a great consequence for it. Your real Master will certainly become displeased with you, and then His displeasure and anger will become a further cause of harm for you.