سُوْرَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ
Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 47
۞ إِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ وَمَا تَخْرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٍ مِّنْ أَكْمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍ ﴿47﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
To Him (Alone) is referred the knowledge of the Hour. No fruit comes out of its sheath, nor does a female conceive nor brings forth (young), except by His Knowledge. And on the Day when He will call unto them (polytheists) (saying): "Where are My (so-called) partners (whom you did invent)?" They will say: "We inform You that none of us bears witness to it (that they are Your partners)!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ إِلَيْهِ
ilayhi
To Him
يُرَدُّ
yuraddu
is referred
عِلْمُ
ʿil'mu
(the) knowledge
ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ
l-sāʿati
(of) the Hour
وَمَا
wamā
And not
تَخْرُجُ
takhruju
comes out
مِن
min
any
ثَمَرَٰتٍۢ
thamarātin
fruits
مِّنْ
min
from
أَكْمَامِهَا
akmāmihā
their coverings
وَمَا
wamā
and not
تَحْمِلُ
taḥmilu
bears
مِنْ
min
any
أُنثَىٰ
unthā
female
وَلَا
walā
and not
تَضَعُ
taḍaʿu
gives birth
إِلَّا
illā
except
بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ
biʿil'mihi
with His knowledge
وَيَوْمَ
wayawma
And (the) Day
يُنَادِيهِمْ
yunādīhim
He will call them
أَيْنَ
ayna
Where (are)
شُرَكَآءِى
shurakāī
My partners
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They will say
ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ
ādhannāka
We announce (to) You
مَا
mā
not
مِنَّا
minnā
among us
مِن
min
any
شَهِيدٍۢ
shahīdin
witness
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 47) ➊ {اِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ:} In the context of the previous verse, the recompense for every good and bad deed is mentioned. We see that in this world, most people die without receiving recompense, so Allah Almighty has promised the Day of Resurrection. Its very name is "Yawm ad-Din" (the Day of Recompense), because if He does not recompense the good and the bad, that would be injustice, whereas He does not wrong His servants even by an atom's weight. Since the disbelievers could not deny the establishment of the Resurrection and Allah Almighty's complete power over it with any evidence, they adopted this method of denial that they would repeatedly ask, "When will the Resurrection be?" As if, if it did not occur immediately at their demand, they could say that if the Resurrection were to happen, it would have already come. In response to their question, Allah Almighty said that the knowledge of the Resurrection is returned to Him alone. That is, whether you ask a human, a jinn, or an angel—whoever you ask about the Resurrection, they will be unaware. They will refer you to someone else, but he too will be unaware. After asking everyone, all will refer back to the One who alone can tell, and that is only Allah Almighty; all others are unaware. See also Surah An-Nazi'at (42–44), Al-An'am (59), and Surah Al-A'raf (187). Jibril (peace be upon him) came in human form and asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), "When will the Resurrection be?" So he (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: [ مَا الْمَسْئُوْلُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ] [بخاري، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم … : ۵۰ ] "The one being asked knows no more about it than the questioner." The meaning is that what you are so insistent about will not benefit you, because no one knows it except Allah Almighty, so you should be concerned about what will become of you on that day and what preparations you have made for it.
➋ { وَ مَا تَخْرُجُ مِنْ ثَمَرٰتٍ مِّنْ اَكْمَامِهَا: ’’أَكْمَامٌ‘‘ ’’كِمٌّ‘‘} (with kasrah on the letter kaf) is the plural of 'كِمٌّ'; it is the covering or veil in which the fruit is initially hidden. {’’ ثَمَرٰتٍ ‘‘} is a plural and indefinite noun, and with the addition of {’’ مِنْ ‘‘}, its generality is increased. Taking all these points into account, the translation is: "No kind of fruit comes out of its coverings." The meaning is that not only the knowledge of the Resurrection, but all matters of the unseen—knowledge of all of them is only with Allah Almighty. No prophet, saint, or angel can have knowledge of the unseen except to the extent that Allah Almighty has informed him. See also Surah Al-An'am (59) and Surah Al-A'raf (187).
➌ { وَ مَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ اُنْثٰى وَ لَا تَضَعُ اِلَّا بِعِلْمِهٖ:} See Surah Ar-Ra'd (8) and Surah Fatir (11). That is, besides the Resurrection, the knowledge of the time when any fruit comes out of its covering, or when any female becomes pregnant or gives birth, is also not known to anyone except Allah Almighty. So, have you ever denied the coming out of a fruit from its covering, or a female becoming pregnant or giving birth, or the occurrence of countless other things, just because you were not told their exact time? Then why do you deny the Resurrection only because you have not been told the time of its occurrence!?
➍ {وَ يَوْمَ يُنَادِيْهِمْ اَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِيْ: ’’ يَوْمَ ‘‘} It is in the accusative case because it is the object of an omitted verb because it is the object of {’’اُذْكُرْ‘‘}. While mentioning the Resurrection, it is said: Remember the day when Allah Almighty will call the polytheists and say, "Where are My partners?" {’’ شُرَكَآءِيْ ‘‘} (My partners) refers to those whom they had made up, otherwise, who can be a partner of Allah Almighty!? Allah Almighty's saying this to them is only to humiliate them, because He knows full well that there is no partner of His whom they could bring.
➎ { قَالُوْۤا اٰذَنّٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِنْ شَهِيْدٍ:} That is, they will deny their polytheism and say, "We have clearly informed You that none of us bears witness that You have any partner," meaning, "We never committed shirk with You." (See Al-An'am: 22–24) The reality is that on the Day of Resurrection, sometimes they will deny their polytheism, sometimes they will involuntarily admit it, then deny it again. (See Al-Mu'min: 73, 74) Then, when testimonies are presented, they will have no choice but to admit.
➋ { وَ مَا تَخْرُجُ مِنْ ثَمَرٰتٍ مِّنْ اَكْمَامِهَا: ’’أَكْمَامٌ‘‘ ’’كِمٌّ‘‘} (with kasrah on the letter kaf) is the plural of 'كِمٌّ'; it is the covering or veil in which the fruit is initially hidden. {’’ ثَمَرٰتٍ ‘‘} is a plural and indefinite noun, and with the addition of {’’ مِنْ ‘‘}, its generality is increased. Taking all these points into account, the translation is: "No kind of fruit comes out of its coverings." The meaning is that not only the knowledge of the Resurrection, but all matters of the unseen—knowledge of all of them is only with Allah Almighty. No prophet, saint, or angel can have knowledge of the unseen except to the extent that Allah Almighty has informed him. See also Surah Al-An'am (59) and Surah Al-A'raf (187).
➌ { وَ مَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ اُنْثٰى وَ لَا تَضَعُ اِلَّا بِعِلْمِهٖ:} See Surah Ar-Ra'd (8) and Surah Fatir (11). That is, besides the Resurrection, the knowledge of the time when any fruit comes out of its covering, or when any female becomes pregnant or gives birth, is also not known to anyone except Allah Almighty. So, have you ever denied the coming out of a fruit from its covering, or a female becoming pregnant or giving birth, or the occurrence of countless other things, just because you were not told their exact time? Then why do you deny the Resurrection only because you have not been told the time of its occurrence!?
➍ {وَ يَوْمَ يُنَادِيْهِمْ اَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِيْ: ’’ يَوْمَ ‘‘} It is in the accusative case because it is the object of an omitted verb because it is the object of {’’اُذْكُرْ‘‘}. While mentioning the Resurrection, it is said: Remember the day when Allah Almighty will call the polytheists and say, "Where are My partners?" {’’ شُرَكَآءِيْ ‘‘} (My partners) refers to those whom they had made up, otherwise, who can be a partner of Allah Almighty!? Allah Almighty's saying this to them is only to humiliate them, because He knows full well that there is no partner of His whom they could bring.
➎ { قَالُوْۤا اٰذَنّٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِنْ شَهِيْدٍ:} That is, they will deny their polytheism and say, "We have clearly informed You that none of us bears witness that You have any partner," meaning, "We never committed shirk with You." (See Al-An'am: 22–24) The reality is that on the Day of Resurrection, sometimes they will deny their polytheism, sometimes they will involuntarily admit it, then deny it again. (See Al-Mu'min: 73, 74) Then, when testimonies are presented, they will have no choice but to admit.
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.
47. 1 That is, except for Allah, no one has knowledge of its occurrence. Therefore, when Jibril (علیہ السلام) asked the Noble Prophet ﷺ about the occurrence of the Day of Judgment, he ﷺ replied, "Regarding this, I have as much knowledge as you do; I do not know more than you." In other places, Allah Almighty has said (اِلٰى رَبِّكَ مُنْتَهٰهَا) 79. An-Nazi'at:44)
47. 2 This is a statement of the comprehensiveness of Allah's knowledge, and in His attribute of knowledge, no one is His partner; that is, no one possesses such perfect knowledge, not even the Prophets (علیہم السلام). They too have only as much knowledge as Allah Almighty informs them through revelation.
47. 3 That is, today none of us is willing to accept that You have any partner.
47. 2 This is a statement of the comprehensiveness of Allah's knowledge, and in His attribute of knowledge, no one is His partner; that is, no one possesses such perfect knowledge, not even the Prophets (علیہم السلام). They too have only as much knowledge as Allah Almighty informs them through revelation.
47. 3 That is, today none of us is willing to accept that You have any partner.
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.
47. The knowledge of the Hour is referred to Allah alone. No fruit emerges from its sheath, nor does any female conceive or give birth [61], except with His knowledge. And on the Day He will call them, “Where are My partners?” they will say, “We have declared to You that none of us bears witness (to that) [62].”
[61]
Turning the Direction of the Answer Towards That Which Relates to Practical Life:
Such is the extent of Allah Almighty’s knowledge that all the states a bud passes through until its fruit emerges, and all the stages a fetus undergoes in the mother’s womb, are all within Allah Almighty’s knowledge. When such an All-Knowing Being is informing you that the Day of Judgment is certain to come, then you should believe in it. As for the matter of when it will come, that knowledge is also only with Allah, and to disclose it is against the Divine Will, because in that case, the very purpose of human creation would be lost. It had become a pastime for the disbelievers to repeatedly ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ this question, so in response, different answers were given at different places, and the aspect was adopted which relates to practical life. This was also the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Thus, once while you ﷺ were traveling somewhere, someone called out loudly on the way: “O Muhammad ﷺ! When will the Day of Judgment come?” So you ﷺ replied: “Woe to you! Have you prepared anything for it?” [مسلم۔ کتاب البرو الصلۃ والادب۔ باب المرء مع من احب]
[62] The meaning of ﴿اٰذنّٰكَ﴾ is: We have already made you aware, that is, on the Day of Judgment, when the polytheists see the outcome of their polytheism, instead of admitting their polytheism, they will outright deny it. Some scholars have interpreted “shaheed” here as “witness,” meaning: Today, none of our deities are visible to us here.
[61]
Turning the Direction of the Answer Towards That Which Relates to Practical Life:
Such is the extent of Allah Almighty’s knowledge that all the states a bud passes through until its fruit emerges, and all the stages a fetus undergoes in the mother’s womb, are all within Allah Almighty’s knowledge. When such an All-Knowing Being is informing you that the Day of Judgment is certain to come, then you should believe in it. As for the matter of when it will come, that knowledge is also only with Allah, and to disclose it is against the Divine Will, because in that case, the very purpose of human creation would be lost. It had become a pastime for the disbelievers to repeatedly ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ this question, so in response, different answers were given at different places, and the aspect was adopted which relates to practical life. This was also the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Thus, once while you ﷺ were traveling somewhere, someone called out loudly on the way: “O Muhammad ﷺ! When will the Day of Judgment come?” So you ﷺ replied: “Woe to you! Have you prepared anything for it?” [مسلم۔ کتاب البرو الصلۃ والادب۔ باب المرء مع من احب]
[62] The meaning of ﴿اٰذنّٰكَ﴾ is: We have already made you aware, that is, on the Day of Judgment, when the polytheists see the outcome of their polytheism, instead of admitting their polytheism, they will outright deny it. Some scholars have interpreted “shaheed” here as “witness,” meaning: Today, none of our deities are visible to us here.
