Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Why should Allâh punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allâh is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَّاmāWhat
يَفْعَلُyafʿaluwould do
ٱللَّهُl-lahuAllah
بِعَذَابِكُمْbiʿadhābikumby punishing you
إِنinif
شَكَرْتُمْshakartumyou are grateful
وَءَامَنتُمْ ۚwaāmantumand you believe
وَكَانَwakānaAnd is
ٱللَّهُl-lahuAllah
شَاكِرًاshākiranAll-Appreciative
عَلِيمًۭاʿalīmanAll-Knowing
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 147) { مَايَفْعَلُاللّٰهُبِعَذَابِكُمْ … :} The purpose here is to explain that the cause of punishment is your ingratitude and lack of faith; otherwise, what need does Allah have to punish you? So if you truly believe from your heart and express gratitude to Allah by obeying Him in word and deed, then Allah is Appreciative and All-Knowing.
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.
147. 1. Gratitude means to avoid evils according to Allah's command and to be diligent in righteous deeds. This is, in effect, the practical gratitude for Allah's blessings, and faith means to have faith in the oneness and lordship of Allah and in the prophethood of the Last Prophet, Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ.
147. 2. That is, whoever is grateful He will appreciate, whoever believes with the heart He will know it, and accordingly, He will give the best reward.
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.
147. Why would Allah punish you if you are grateful [195] and believe sincerely? Allah is Most Appreciative, All-Knowing [196].
[195] Definition of Gratitude and Its Prohibition:
The meaning of gratitude is the acknowledgment of a blessing, and it has three levels. (1) Of the Heart: That is, a person acknowledges the favors of Allah or anyone else in his heart. (2) Verbal: As a narration of blessings, he also acknowledges it with his tongue and mentions Allah’s favors before others. (3) Practical: That is, the effects of this gratitude are also manifested through his limbs and organs. And these three levels are, in fact, inseparable and occur in sequence. When a person reflects on Allah’s favors, his heart becomes filled with feelings of love and loyalty to Allah. Then, as a result of this abundance of emotion, he mentions these favors both alone and in front of others, and he feels happiness in his heart. Then, this love and sincerity affect his thinking in such a way that the more favors Allah has bestowed upon him, the more he should become obedient, submissive, and devoted in worship to Him. A clear example of this is the incident that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, in the last part of his life, would stand in prayer at night so long that his feet would become swollen. The noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) submitted, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Allah has already forgiven all your past and future sins. Then why do you endure so much hardship?” So he ﷺ replied, “Should I not be a grateful servant of Allah?” This incident is mentioned in many authentic hadiths, and its summary is that the more favors and grace Allah bestows upon a true believer, the more his feelings of love, sincerity, and loyalty are stirred, and he begins to express gratitude for these favors in every possible way.
[196] When the word “gratitude” is attributed to Allah Almighty, it means appreciation or recognition, i.e., if a person performs even a small deed or expresses gratitude, Allah grants him a reward far greater than his deed and forgives minor sins as a matter of course, whereas the state of man is that he is often ungrateful, and if someone acts against his will, he is harsh in holding him to account. Allah is even more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child; therefore, unless a person angers his Lord by committing shirk or repeatedly disobeying, Allah never punishes anyone without cause.