Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And they swore by Allâh their most binding oath that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than any of the nations (before them); yet when a warner (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) came to them, it increased in them nothing but flight (from the truth)
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟wa-aqsamūAnd they swore
بِٱللَّهِbil-lahiby Allah
جَهْدَjahda(the) strongest
أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْaymānihim(of) their oaths
لَئِنla-inthat if
جَآءَهُمْjāahumcame to them
نَذِيرٌۭnadhīruna warner
لَّيَكُونُنَّlayakūnunnasurely, they would be
أَهْدَىٰahdāmore guided
مِنْminthan
إِحْدَىiḥ'dāany
ٱلْأُمَمِ ۖl-umami(of) the nations
فَلَمَّاfalammāBut when
جَآءَهُمْjāahumcame to them
نَذِيرٌۭnadhīruna warner
مَّاmānot
زَادَهُمْzādahumit increased them
إِلَّاillābut
نُفُورًاnufūran(in) aversion
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 42) ➊ { وَاَقْسَمُوْابِاللّٰهِجَهْدَاَيْمَانِهِمْ …:} The disbelief and ingratitude of the polytheists was manifested both in the form of associating partners (shirk) and in denying the Messenger, so after refuting shirk, their ingratitude in the form of denying the Messenger is mentioned. Before the arrival of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), when the polytheists of Makkah met the People of the Book during their travels to other cities of Arabia, such as Yathrib and Khaybar, or to other countries, such as Syria, the People of the Book would criticize their idol worship and other ignorances. In response, they would say, "You people have received Allah’s Messengers and His Books. If a Messenger comes to us, we will be more guided than any other nation." And they would swear the strongest oaths they could on this claim, as Allah Almighty has said elsewhere: «اَنْتَقُوْلُوْۤااِنَّمَاۤاُنْزِلَالْكِتٰبُعَلٰىطَآىِٕفَتَيْنِمِنْقَبْلِنَاوَاِنْكُنَّاعَنْدِرَاسَتِهِمْلَغٰفِلِيْنَ (156) اَوْتَقُوْلُوْالَوْاَنَّاۤاُنْزِلَعَلَيْنَاالْكِتٰبُلَكُنَّاۤاَهْدٰىمِنْهُمْفَقَدْجَآءَكُمْبَيِّنَةٌمِّنْرَّبِّكُمْوَهُدًىوَّرَحْمَةٌفَمَنْاَظْلَمُمِمَّنْكَذَّبَبِاٰيٰتِاللّٰهِوَصَدَفَعَنْهَا »[ الأنعام : ۱۵۶، ۱۵۷ ] "Lest you say, 'The Book was only sent down to two groups before us, and indeed we were unaware of their study.' Or lest you say, 'If the Book had been sent down to us, we would have been better guided than them.' So there has certainly come to you a clear proof from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Then who is more unjust than one who denies the signs of Allah and turns away from them?" And as He said: «وَاِنْكَانُوْالَيَقُوْلُوْنَ (167) لَوْاَنَّعِنْدَنَاذِكْرًامِّنَالْاَوَّلِيْنَ (168) لَكُنَّاعِبَادَاللّٰهِالْمُخْلَصِيْنَ (169) فَكَفَرُوْابِهٖفَسَوْفَيَعْلَمُوْنَ »[ الصافات : ۱۶۷ تا ۱۷۰ ] "And indeed they used to say, 'If only we had a reminder from those of old, we would surely have been Allah’s chosen servants.' But they denied it, so soon they will know." ➋ {فَلَمَّاجَآءَهُمْنَذِيْرٌمَّازَادَهُمْاِلَّانُفُوْرًا :} So when a warner came to them, instead of accepting guidance more than any other nation, they persisted in their disbelief and shirk. Rather, the coming of the Messenger only increased their aversion and fleeing away, and they became even more distant from guidance than before.
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.
42. 1. In this, Allah Almighty is stating that before the advent of Muhammad, these polytheists of Arabia used to swear oaths repeatedly, saying that if a messenger came to us, we would welcome him and play an exemplary role in believing in him. This subject has also been mentioned in other places. For example, (اَنْتَقُوْلُوْٓااِنَّمَآاُنْزِلَالْكِتٰبُعَلٰيطَاۗىِٕفَتَيْنِمِنْقَبْلِنَا ۠ وَاِنْكُنَّاعَنْدِرَاسَتِهِمْلَغٰفِلِيْنَ 156ۙ اَوْتَقُوْلُوْالَوْاَنَّآاُنْزِلَعَلَيْنَاالْكِتٰبُلَكُنَّآاَهْدٰيمِنْهُمْ ۚ فَقَدْجَاۗءَكُمْبَيِّنَةٌمِّنْرَّبِّكُمْوَهُدًىوَّرَحْمَةٌ ۚ فَمَنْاَظْلَمُمِمَّنْكَذَّبَبِاٰيٰتِاللّٰهِوَصَدَفَعَنْهَا ۭ سَنَجْزِيالَّذِيْنَيَصْدِفُوْنَعَنْاٰيٰتِنَاسُوْۗءَالْعَذَابِبِمَاكَانُوْايَصْدِفُوْنَ 157) 6. Al-An'am:157-156) (ثُمَّاِنَّمَرْجِعَهُمْلَا۟اِلَىالْجَحِيْمِ) 37. As-Saffat:68). (فَكَفَرُوْابِهٖفَسَوْفَيَعْلَمُوْنَ) 37. As-Saffat:170)
42. 2. That is, Muhammad ﷺ has come to them as a prophet, for whom they used to long.
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.
42. They used to swear strong oaths by Allah that if a warner (prophet) came to them, they would be better guided than any other community [48]. But when a warner did come to them, it only increased them in aversion.
[48] The Saying of the Polytheists of Makkah: If a Prophet Had Come to Us, We Would Have Been More Guided Than You:
Before your ﷺ appointment, the disbelievers of Makkah, when they observed the corrupted moral state of the Jews and Christians, would boast and say emphatically, swearing oaths, that if a prophet had come to us who would guide us, we would certainly have been better than you in every respect. Then, when Allah Almighty sent His Prophet among them and they realized that now they would have to give up their leadership and chieftaincy and live as obedient followers of this Prophet, they became arrogant. They forgot the promises and statements they had made before the Jews and Christians. And in order to protect their leadership and chieftaincy, they instead girded themselves for opposition to the Prophet and continued striving to make life difficult for this warner and his followers. In this regard, besides open opposition, they also wove many webs of secret conspiracies. But Allah Almighty was with His Prophet and His believers. Therefore, whatever plot they devised would turn back upon themselves. As a result, they themselves were humiliated and disgraced, and despite their countless oppositions, Islam continued to gain dominance and ascendancy. And the more Islam was elevated, the more they became enraged due to their malice, hatred, and enmity.
