سُوْرَةُ الشُّوْرٰي
Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 24
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا ۖ فَإِن يَشَإِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْتِمْ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ ۗ وَيَمْحُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ وَيُحِقُّ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ ﴿24﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Or say they: "He has invented a lie against Allâh?" If Allâh willed, He could have sealed up your heart (so that you forget all that you know of the Qur’ân). And Allâh wipes out falsehood, and establishes the truth (Islâm) by His Word (this Qur’ân). Verily, He knows well what (secrets) are in the breasts (of mankind).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَمْ
am
Or
يَقُولُونَ
yaqūlūna
(do) they say
ٱفْتَرَىٰ
if'tarā
He has invented
عَلَى
ʿalā
about
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
كَذِبًۭا ۖ
kadhiban
a lie
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
يَشَإِ
yasha-i
Allah willed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah willed
يَخْتِمْ
yakhtim
He would seal
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
[over]
قَلْبِكَ ۗ
qalbika
your heart
وَيَمْحُ
wayamḥu
And Allah eliminates
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
And Allah eliminates
ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ
l-bāṭila
the falsehood
وَيُحِقُّ
wayuḥiqqu
and establishes
ٱلْحَقَّ
l-ḥaqa
the truth
بِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ
bikalimātihi
by His Words
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
عَلِيمٌۢ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knowing
بِذَاتِ
bidhāti
of what
ٱلصُّدُورِ
l-ṣudūri
(is in) the breasts
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 24) ➊ Before the word { اَمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ افْتَرٰى عَلَى اللّٰهِ كَذِبًا: ’’ اَمْ‘‘}, there is an explicit or implied sentence that begins with the interrogative hamzah. Here, after making it clear that inviting you to the religion is entirely for your benefit and your salvation, and that I have no personal interest in it, nor do I ask you for any reward for it. However, I do say that at least, due to kinship, fulfill my right of friendship. Beyond this, the implied phrase would be whether they accept this invitation and believe in you {’’ اَمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ افْتَرٰى ‘‘} or, persisting in stubbornness and hostility, keep saying that he has fabricated a lie against Allah.
➋ { فَاِنْ يَّشَاِ اللّٰهُ يَخْتِمْ عَلٰى قَلْبِكَ:} The commentators have interpreted this in several ways; two clearer interpretations are presented here. Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "If you had fabricated a lie against Allah, as these ignorant people are saying, then if He willed, {’’ يَخْتِمْ عَلٰى قَلْبِكَ ‘‘} He could seal your heart and take away from you whatever Qur'an He has granted you, as He said: « وَ لَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْاَقَاوِيْل (44) لَاَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِيْنِ (45) ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِيْنَ (46) فَمَا مِنْكُمْ مِّنْ اَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حٰجِزِيْنَ » [ الحاقۃ : ۴۴ تا ۴۷ ] 'And if he had made up some statements against Us, We would have seized him by the right hand, then We would have cut from him the aorta, and none of you could have prevented Us from him.' That is, We would have taken the severest revenge from him, and no one could have saved him. (Ibn Kathir) For further details, see the commentary of Surah Al-Haqqah. Commentator Qasimi said: "This is the interpretation of Qur'anic verses with other Qur'anic verses, and wherever possible, this is the best interpretation, because Qur'anic verses explain each other. According to this meaning, as Abu Saud clarified, the outcome of the verse is a refutation of the disbelievers' claim, that if you (peace be upon him) had fabricated a lie against Allah, Allah would have prevented you from it in every way, and would have sealed your heart so that neither would any word of revelation come to your tongue nor any meaning of it enter your heart. Since this did not happen, but rather revelation continued uninterrupted, it is proven that it is indeed from Allah."
The second interpretation, in the words of commentator Shihab, is: "It means that if Allah wills, He can seal your heart, just as He has sealed the hearts of those (disbelievers who make accusations). In this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is comforted and reminded of Allah's favor and honor (that He did not seal your heart), so that you may be grateful for it and feel pity for those whose hearts Allah has sealed and who have become deserving of their Lord's wrath. If this had not happened, they would never have dared to make such an accusation against you, that you have fabricated a lie against Allah. In summary, if the seal of misguidance had not been set upon them, they would not have dared to say such an impossible thing." (Quoted from Qasimi)
➌ {وَ يَمْحُ اللّٰهُ الْبَاطِلَ … : ’’ يَمْحُ ‘‘} In the original, it is {’’ يَمْحُوْ ‘‘}. Its conjunction is not with {’’ يَخْتِمْ ‘‘}, nor has its "waw" been dropped due to being in the jussive case, rather, this is a new sentence and, being in the nominative case, the "waw" remains in its place. In the script of the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), the "waw" was not written here, because in some places, the letters that were not pronounced in recitation were also omitted in writing, as in Surah Bani Isra'il, Ayah (11): « وَ يَدْعُ الْاِنْسَانُ بِالشَّرِّ دُعَآءَهٗ بِالْخَيْرِ » and Surah Al-'Alaq, Ayah (18): «سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ », the "waw" is not written. Later, Muslims preserved this script for the Qur'an. Some scholars have pointed out that the omission of the "waw" in {’’ يَمْحُ ‘‘} is to express exaggeration in the erasure and obliteration of falsehood, so the "waw" of {’’ يَمْحُوْ ‘‘} was also erased.
➍ That is, it is Allah's way that He obliterates falsehood and establishes the truth with His words, so how could it be that you fabricate a lie against Allah and Allah does not erase it, but rather continues to grant you victory and help at every step? This is proof that you have come with the truth, and the worst slanderer is the one who says that you have fabricated a lie against Allah.
➎ { اِنَّهٗ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوْرِ:} That is, He has full knowledge of the intentions and purposes hidden in the hearts; He never bestows His messengership upon those who are evil-natured and fabricators, as He said: « اَللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهٗ » [ الأنعام : ۱۲۴ ] "Allah knows best where He places His messengership." It is on the basis of His perfect knowledge that He has chosen you for this position.
➋ { فَاِنْ يَّشَاِ اللّٰهُ يَخْتِمْ عَلٰى قَلْبِكَ:} The commentators have interpreted this in several ways; two clearer interpretations are presented here. Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "If you had fabricated a lie against Allah, as these ignorant people are saying, then if He willed, {’’ يَخْتِمْ عَلٰى قَلْبِكَ ‘‘} He could seal your heart and take away from you whatever Qur'an He has granted you, as He said: « وَ لَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْاَقَاوِيْل (44) لَاَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِيْنِ (45) ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِيْنَ (46) فَمَا مِنْكُمْ مِّنْ اَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حٰجِزِيْنَ » [ الحاقۃ : ۴۴ تا ۴۷ ] 'And if he had made up some statements against Us, We would have seized him by the right hand, then We would have cut from him the aorta, and none of you could have prevented Us from him.' That is, We would have taken the severest revenge from him, and no one could have saved him. (Ibn Kathir) For further details, see the commentary of Surah Al-Haqqah. Commentator Qasimi said: "This is the interpretation of Qur'anic verses with other Qur'anic verses, and wherever possible, this is the best interpretation, because Qur'anic verses explain each other. According to this meaning, as Abu Saud clarified, the outcome of the verse is a refutation of the disbelievers' claim, that if you (peace be upon him) had fabricated a lie against Allah, Allah would have prevented you from it in every way, and would have sealed your heart so that neither would any word of revelation come to your tongue nor any meaning of it enter your heart. Since this did not happen, but rather revelation continued uninterrupted, it is proven that it is indeed from Allah."
The second interpretation, in the words of commentator Shihab, is: "It means that if Allah wills, He can seal your heart, just as He has sealed the hearts of those (disbelievers who make accusations). In this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is comforted and reminded of Allah's favor and honor (that He did not seal your heart), so that you may be grateful for it and feel pity for those whose hearts Allah has sealed and who have become deserving of their Lord's wrath. If this had not happened, they would never have dared to make such an accusation against you, that you have fabricated a lie against Allah. In summary, if the seal of misguidance had not been set upon them, they would not have dared to say such an impossible thing." (Quoted from Qasimi)
➌ {وَ يَمْحُ اللّٰهُ الْبَاطِلَ … : ’’ يَمْحُ ‘‘} In the original, it is {’’ يَمْحُوْ ‘‘}. Its conjunction is not with {’’ يَخْتِمْ ‘‘}, nor has its "waw" been dropped due to being in the jussive case, rather, this is a new sentence and, being in the nominative case, the "waw" remains in its place. In the script of the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), the "waw" was not written here, because in some places, the letters that were not pronounced in recitation were also omitted in writing, as in Surah Bani Isra'il, Ayah (11): « وَ يَدْعُ الْاِنْسَانُ بِالشَّرِّ دُعَآءَهٗ بِالْخَيْرِ » and Surah Al-'Alaq, Ayah (18): «سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ », the "waw" is not written. Later, Muslims preserved this script for the Qur'an. Some scholars have pointed out that the omission of the "waw" in {’’ يَمْحُ ‘‘} is to express exaggeration in the erasure and obliteration of falsehood, so the "waw" of {’’ يَمْحُوْ ‘‘} was also erased.
➍ That is, it is Allah's way that He obliterates falsehood and establishes the truth with His words, so how could it be that you fabricate a lie against Allah and Allah does not erase it, but rather continues to grant you victory and help at every step? This is proof that you have come with the truth, and the worst slanderer is the one who says that you have fabricated a lie against Allah.
➎ { اِنَّهٗ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوْرِ:} That is, He has full knowledge of the intentions and purposes hidden in the hearts; He never bestows His messengership upon those who are evil-natured and fabricators, as He said: « اَللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهٗ » [ الأنعام : ۱۲۴ ] "Allah knows best where He places His messengership." It is on the basis of His perfect knowledge that He has chosen you for this position.
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.
24. 1. That is, if there had been any truth in this accusation, We would have set a seal upon your heart, by which that which is attributed to you as fabrication would have been erased; the meaning is that We would have given you the severest punishment for it.
24. 2. If this Quran too had been false (as the deniers claim), then surely Allah would have erased it as well, as is His practice.
24. 2. If this Quran too had been false (as the deniers claim), then surely Allah would have erased it as well, as is His practice.
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.
Or do they say, "He has fabricated a lie against Allah"? But if He willed, He could seal your heart [36]. And Allah eliminates falsehood and establishes the truth by His words [37]. Surely, He knows well what is in the hearts [38].
[36] To level such an accusation against an ordinary person is a grave crime, but these people have become so audacious that they do not refrain from accusing even you ﷺ, and say that this Quran has been authored by him himself. These wretches consider you ﷺ to be just like themselves, and Allah sets a seal upon the hearts of such wretches. And if their accusation were true, then Allah would have set a seal upon your heart as well. The very fact that there is no seal upon your heart is proof that these wretches are the liars and accusers.
[37] That is, Allah never grants endurance to falsehood, and it is always brought low and humiliated. And as a result, the truth becomes self-evident and established. Therefore, pay no heed whatsoever to their accusation; soon their accusation and falsehood will become clear, and the truth will emerge purified and manifest. This has always been Allah’s way.
[38] That is, Allah knows well the personal interests that underlie their denial of you and their leveling of such heinous accusations against you, and the reasons for which they do such things.
[36] To level such an accusation against an ordinary person is a grave crime, but these people have become so audacious that they do not refrain from accusing even you ﷺ, and say that this Quran has been authored by him himself. These wretches consider you ﷺ to be just like themselves, and Allah sets a seal upon the hearts of such wretches. And if their accusation were true, then Allah would have set a seal upon your heart as well. The very fact that there is no seal upon your heart is proof that these wretches are the liars and accusers.
[37] That is, Allah never grants endurance to falsehood, and it is always brought low and humiliated. And as a result, the truth becomes self-evident and established. Therefore, pay no heed whatsoever to their accusation; soon their accusation and falsehood will become clear, and the truth will emerge purified and manifest. This has always been Allah’s way.
[38] That is, Allah knows well the personal interests that underlie their denial of you and their leveling of such heinous accusations against you, and the reasons for which they do such things.
