سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 119
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا ﴿119﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allâh." And whoever takes Shaitân (Satan) as a Walî (protector or helper) instead of Allâh, has surely suffered a manifest loss.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ
wala-uḍillannahum
And I will surely mislead them
وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ
wala-umanniyannahum
and surely arouse desires in them
وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ
walaāmurannahum
and surely I will order them
فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ
falayubattikunna
so they will surely cut off
ءَاذَانَ
ādhāna
(the) ears
ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ
l-anʿāmi
(of) the cattle
وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ
walaāmurannahum
and surely I will order them
فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ
falayughayyirunna
so they will surely change
خَلْقَ
khalqa
(the) creation
ٱللَّهِ ۚ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يَتَّخِذِ
yattakhidhi
takes
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ
l-shayṭāna
the Shaitaan
وَلِيًّۭا
waliyyan
(as) a friend
مِّن
min
from
دُونِ
dūni
besides
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
فَقَدْ
faqad
then surely
خَسِرَ
khasira
he (has) lost
خُسْرَانًۭا
khus'rānan
a loss
مُّبِينًۭا
mubīnan
manifest
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 119) ➊ { وَ لَاُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ … :} These are the false hopes that Satan instills in the human heart: keep committing sins, Allah is Most Forgiving and Merciful; faith should be in the heart of a Muslim, what is the need for prayer and other good deeds; or, what is the hurry, we will repent at the time of death; or, the saints and spiritual leaders you boast about have great influence with Allah, just hold on to their cloak and they will take you straight to Paradise, etc. All such thoughts and assumptions fall under satanic desires. (Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir)
➋ The meaning of { فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ اٰذَانَ الْاَنْعَامِ : ’’ بَتْكٌ ‘‘} is to cut, that is, to cut the ears of animals in the name of others besides Allah and to consider riding them as forbidden, which were called Bahira, Sa’iba, etc. See Surah Al-Ma’idah (103).
➌ {فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللّٰهِ …:} That is, they will change the form and appearance of what Allah has created and will also alter the rulings regarding their permissibility and prohibition. This includes monasticism (escaping worldly responsibilities and living in the wilderness), the act of the people of Lot, men becoming eunuchs by castration, making women barren, vasectomy of men and operations on women in the name of birth control to prevent childbirth, removing women from their homes and natural duties and placing them among men, making women the head of state, plucking eyebrows for beauty, tattooing the skin with indigo, sharpening teeth, attaching artificial hair to the head, men shaving their beards, minimizing women’s clothing to try to make them naked—these are all satanic acts and cause Allah’s curse. Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Allah has cursed those who tattoo and those who get tattooed (those who make designs by filling the skin with indigo or kohl), those who remove facial hair and those who have it removed, and those who create gaps between their teeth for beauty, who alter the creation of Allah, the Exalted.” Then he said: “Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has cursed, and it is also in the Book of Allah,” and he recited this verse: «وَ مَاۤ اٰتٰىكُمُ الرَّسُوْلُ فَخُذُوْهُ وَ مَا نَهٰىكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوْا» [ الحشر : ۷ ] “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it.” [ بخاری ، التفسیر، باب : « وما آتاکم الرسول فخذوہ » : ۴۸۸۶ ]
➋ The meaning of { فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ اٰذَانَ الْاَنْعَامِ : ’’ بَتْكٌ ‘‘} is to cut, that is, to cut the ears of animals in the name of others besides Allah and to consider riding them as forbidden, which were called Bahira, Sa’iba, etc. See Surah Al-Ma’idah (103).
➌ {فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللّٰهِ …:} That is, they will change the form and appearance of what Allah has created and will also alter the rulings regarding their permissibility and prohibition. This includes monasticism (escaping worldly responsibilities and living in the wilderness), the act of the people of Lot, men becoming eunuchs by castration, making women barren, vasectomy of men and operations on women in the name of birth control to prevent childbirth, removing women from their homes and natural duties and placing them among men, making women the head of state, plucking eyebrows for beauty, tattooing the skin with indigo, sharpening teeth, attaching artificial hair to the head, men shaving their beards, minimizing women’s clothing to try to make them naked—these are all satanic acts and cause Allah’s curse. Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Allah has cursed those who tattoo and those who get tattooed (those who make designs by filling the skin with indigo or kohl), those who remove facial hair and those who have it removed, and those who create gaps between their teeth for beauty, who alter the creation of Allah, the Exalted.” Then he said: “Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has cursed, and it is also in the Book of Allah,” and he recited this verse: «وَ مَاۤ اٰتٰىكُمُ الرَّسُوْلُ فَخُذُوْهُ وَ مَا نَهٰىكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوْا» [ الحشر : ۷ ] “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it.” [ بخاری ، التفسیر، باب : « وما آتاکم الرسول فخذوہ » : ۴۸۸۶ ]
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.
119. 1 These are the false hopes that arise from the whispers and interference of Satan and become the cause of misguidance for humans.
119. 2 These are the signs and forms of the Bahira and Sa'iba animals. The polytheists would dedicate them in the names of idols, and for identification, they would slit their ears, etc.
119. 3 Several forms of taghyīr khalq Allāh (changing the creation of Allah) have been mentioned. One is the one just mentioned, i.e., cutting, slitting, or piercing the ears, etc. Besides these, there are other forms as well, for example, Allah Almighty created the moon, sun, stones, fire, etc., for various purposes, but the polytheists changed their purpose of creation and made them objects of worship. Or, the meaning of changing is to alter the natural disposition, or to change what is lawful and unlawful, etc. Included in this change is sterilizing men and, similarly, performing operations on women to deprive them of the ability to bear children. Under the name of makeup, plucking the eyebrows and thus disfiguring their faces, and washm (i.e., tattooing, etc.) are also included. All these are satanic acts from which it is necessary to abstain. However, castrating animals so that they may be more beneficial or their meat may become better, or for any other valid purpose, is permissible. This is also supported by the fact that the Noble Prophet ﷺ slaughtered castrated animals for sacrifice. If it were not permissible to castrate animals, he ﷺ would not have sacrificed them.
119. 2 These are the signs and forms of the Bahira and Sa'iba animals. The polytheists would dedicate them in the names of idols, and for identification, they would slit their ears, etc.
119. 3 Several forms of taghyīr khalq Allāh (changing the creation of Allah) have been mentioned. One is the one just mentioned, i.e., cutting, slitting, or piercing the ears, etc. Besides these, there are other forms as well, for example, Allah Almighty created the moon, sun, stones, fire, etc., for various purposes, but the polytheists changed their purpose of creation and made them objects of worship. Or, the meaning of changing is to alter the natural disposition, or to change what is lawful and unlawful, etc. Included in this change is sterilizing men and, similarly, performing operations on women to deprive them of the ability to bear children. Under the name of makeup, plucking the eyebrows and thus disfiguring their faces, and washm (i.e., tattooing, etc.) are also included. All these are satanic acts from which it is necessary to abstain. However, castrating animals so that they may be more beneficial or their meat may become better, or for any other valid purpose, is permissible. This is also supported by the fact that the Noble Prophet ﷺ slaughtered castrated animals for sacrifice. If it were not permissible to castrate animals, he ﷺ would not have sacrificed them.
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.
119. "And I will surely mislead them, and I will surely arouse desires [158] in them, and I will surely command them so they will slit the ears of cattle [159], and I will surely command them so they will alter Allah’s creation [160]." And whoever takes Satan as a protector instead of Allah has surely suffered a clear loss.
[158]
Forms of Satanic Deception:
Such false hopes for which there is no evidence in the Shariah. For example, the belief of the Jews that the fire of Hell will never touch them, except for a few days during which they worshipped the calf. Or, for instance, the belief that since they are the descendants of the Prophets and the beloved and dear ones of Allah, therefore they will not be punished in the Hereafter. Such false hopes and beliefs are beautified and presented by Satan, due to which a person becomes emboldened in committing sins. And this matter is not limited to the Jews; Christians and Muslims too are deceived by Satan in this regard. The Christians have fabricated the belief in the atonement of the Messiah, and among Muslims, the Sayyid families claim that their lineage is pure by itself, and the belief in the intercession of saints also falls under this category. Furthermore, these hopes are not only related to the Hereafter; Satan often succeeds in leading a person astray by showing him various kinds of worldly successes, joys, and luxuries.
[159] As the people of Arabia used to do: when a she-camel gave birth to ten offspring, or when ten offspring were born from the seed of a particular camel, they would dedicate it in the name of their deity and consider it forbidden to use it, and as a sign, they would slit its ear.
[160]
Alteration in Appearance:
This verse has many meanings. For example, one is that a man makes himself appear in such a way that he looks like a woman, or a woman makes herself appear in such a way that she looks like a man. Secondly, that someone disguises himself to deceive people. Thirdly, that one alters his own appearance according to his own will in such a way as to become more beautiful. Shaving the beard also falls under this category. Fourthly, that a creature is made to do something for which Allah did not create it. For example, committing sodomy with boys, or not using a creature for the purpose for which Allah created it. For example, making men and women infertile, birth control, family planning, stopping human progeny through abortion, castration, etc. Bringing women out of the home into the fields and the arena of economy. And such acts are, in fact, a war against nature, the results of which are always bad, and in the war against nature, ultimately, man himself fails. And all these ideas are taught by Satan. And in every era, their forms keep changing.
[158]
Forms of Satanic Deception:
Such false hopes for which there is no evidence in the Shariah. For example, the belief of the Jews that the fire of Hell will never touch them, except for a few days during which they worshipped the calf. Or, for instance, the belief that since they are the descendants of the Prophets and the beloved and dear ones of Allah, therefore they will not be punished in the Hereafter. Such false hopes and beliefs are beautified and presented by Satan, due to which a person becomes emboldened in committing sins. And this matter is not limited to the Jews; Christians and Muslims too are deceived by Satan in this regard. The Christians have fabricated the belief in the atonement of the Messiah, and among Muslims, the Sayyid families claim that their lineage is pure by itself, and the belief in the intercession of saints also falls under this category. Furthermore, these hopes are not only related to the Hereafter; Satan often succeeds in leading a person astray by showing him various kinds of worldly successes, joys, and luxuries.
[159] As the people of Arabia used to do: when a she-camel gave birth to ten offspring, or when ten offspring were born from the seed of a particular camel, they would dedicate it in the name of their deity and consider it forbidden to use it, and as a sign, they would slit its ear.
[160]
Alteration in Appearance:
This verse has many meanings. For example, one is that a man makes himself appear in such a way that he looks like a woman, or a woman makes herself appear in such a way that she looks like a man. Secondly, that someone disguises himself to deceive people. Thirdly, that one alters his own appearance according to his own will in such a way as to become more beautiful. Shaving the beard also falls under this category. Fourthly, that a creature is made to do something for which Allah did not create it. For example, committing sodomy with boys, or not using a creature for the purpose for which Allah created it. For example, making men and women infertile, birth control, family planning, stopping human progeny through abortion, castration, etc. Bringing women out of the home into the fields and the arena of economy. And such acts are, in fact, a war against nature, the results of which are always bad, and in the war against nature, ultimately, man himself fails. And all these ideas are taught by Satan. And in every era, their forms keep changing.
