سُوْرَةُ الصَّافَّاتِ

Surah As-Saaffaat (37) — Ayah 70

Those drawn up in Ranks · Meccan · Juz 23 · Page 448

فَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ ﴿70﴾
So they (too) hastened in their footsteps!
فَهُمْ fahum So they
عَلَىٰٓ ʿalā on
ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ āthārihim their footsteps
يُهْرَعُونَ yuh'raʿūna they hastened

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 tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

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.

70. 1. This is the reason for the aforementioned punishments of Hell: that despite finding their forefathers in misguidance, they continued to follow in their footsteps and adopted imitation in place of evidence and proof.

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.

70. So they rushed to follow in their footsteps [42].

[42]
The Condemnation of Blindly Following Forefathers:

They did not even bother to consider whether what their forefathers had been doing was right or wrong. They simply started running on the same path they saw their ancestors following, without caring whether it was a well or a pit. And if messengers came to them, they denied them as well, and in defense of their ancestral customs, they went so far as to oppose the messengers. Yet, if they had wanted to learn any lesson from the ways and outcomes of previous nations, they could have done so.