سُوْرَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ

Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 15

Explained in detail · Meccan · Juz 24 · Page 478

‹
›
فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا۟ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ ﴿15﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

As for ‘Âd, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said: "Who is mightier than us in strength?" See they not that Allâh, Who created them was mightier in strength than them. And they used to deny Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.)!

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

فَأَمَّا fa-ammā Then as for
عَادٌۭ ʿādun Aad
فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ fa-is'takbarū they were arrogant
فِى fī in
ٱلْأَرْضِ l-arḍi the land
بِغَيْرِ bighayri without
ٱلْحَقِّ l-ḥaqi [the] right
وَقَالُوا۟ waqālū and they said
مَنْ man Who
أَشَدُّ ashaddu (is) mightier
مِنَّا minnā than us
قُوَّةً ۖ quwwatan (in) strength
أَوَلَمْ awalam Do not
يَرَوْا۟ yaraw they see
أَنَّ anna that
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
ٱلَّذِى alladhī the One Who
خَلَقَهُمْ khalaqahum created them
هُوَ huwa He
أَشَدُّ ashaddu (is) Mightier
مِنْهُمْ min'hum than them
قُوَّةًۭ ۖ quwwatan (in) strength
وَكَانُوا۟ wakānū But they used to
بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا biāyātinā in Our Signs
يَجْحَدُونَ yajḥadūna deny

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 15) ➊ {فَاَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوْا۠ فِي الْاَرْضِ … :} Allah Almighty granted the people of ‘Ad such tall stature, physical strength, and means of worldly advancement that, according to His command, no nation like them was ever created. He said: « اَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ۪ (6) اِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ۪ (7) الَّتِيْ لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِي الْبِلَادِ » [ الفجر : ۶ تا ۸ ] “Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with ‘Ad? (That ‘Ad) who were of Iram (the tribe’s people), possessors of lofty pillars. Those the like of whom were not created in the cities.” And He said: « اَتَبْنُوْنَ بِكُلِّ رِيْعٍ اٰيَةً تَعْبَثُوْنَ (128) وَ تَتَّخِذُوْنَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُوْنَ (129) وَ اِذَا بَطَشْتُمْ بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِيْنَ » [الشعراء : ۱۲۸ تا ۱۳۰ ] “Do you build a monument on every high place, while you engage in vain deeds? And you construct strong buildings, as if you will live forever. And when you seize, you seize as tyrants.” When Hud (peace be upon him) invited them to monotheism, they denied him, even though they knew he was a true Messenger of Allah, merely out of pride and the assumption of their own leadership, because accepting him as a Messenger would require them to obey him, which they were not willing to do.

➋ { وَ قَالُوْا مَنْ اَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً:} When Hud (peace be upon him) warned them of Allah’s punishment, they said, “Who is mightier than us in strength, that we should fear?” “We can avert any punishment that comes.” Even today, atheists say about heavenly calamities that they will confront them. Shah Abdul Qadir writes: “Their bodies were very large, and they became proud of their physical strength; boasting in pride brings disaster in the sight of Allah.” (Mawaddih)

➌ {اَوَ لَمْ يَرَوْا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُمْ … : ’’ اَوَ لَمْ يَرَوْا ‘‘} means {’’أَوَ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوْا‘‘}, this is knowledge-based seeing. That is, did they not know that, however strong they may be, they cannot be mightier than Allah who created them? Certainly, they knew this; the question is rhetorical.

➍ {وَ كَانُوْا بِاٰيٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُوْنَ: ’’جُحُوْدٌ‘‘} means “to deny knowingly.” That is, in their hearts they understood the truth, but out of stubbornness and hostility, they kept denying it. “Signs” refers to the verses revealed to the Prophets, their miracles, and the countless signs of Allah’s oneness and power spread throughout the universe.

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.

15. 1. By this phrase, their intention was that they were capable of averting the punishment because they were tall in stature and extremely powerful. They said this when their prophet, Hud (عليه السلام), warned and admonished them about the punishment of Allah.

15. 1. That is, are they even more powerful than the One Who created them and endowed them with strength and power? Has His own strength and power ended after creating them? This question is for rejection and rebuke.

15. 2. Those miracles which We had given to the prophets, or those proofs which were revealed with the messengers, or those signs in the universe which are spread and scattered throughout creation.

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.

As for the people of ‘Ad, they acted arrogantly in the land without right and said, “Who is mightier than us in strength?” Did they not see that the One Who created them, is certainly mightier than them [18] in strength? Yet they continued to reject Our signs deliberately.

[18] The greatest obstacle in accepting the truth is arrogance. Accepting the words of the messengers would undermine their own leadership and chieftainship. Therefore, these chieftain-type people stand up boldly in opposition to the messengers and gather the people of their sphere of influence with them. And the people of ‘Ad were also of great stature and very powerful, so they became arrogant. And they said to the messengers, "What do we consider you to be?" At that time, they did not realize that the messenger may be weaker than them in strength, but the Being Who sent them as His messenger is not weaker than them.
← Previous All Surahs Next →
Telegram
Facebook