سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ

Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 38

Ornaments of gold · Meccan · Juz 25 · Page 492

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَ يَـٰلَيْتَ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرِينُ ﴿38﴾
Till, when (such a one) comes to Us, he says [to his Qarîn (Satan / devil companion)] "Would that between me and you were the distance of the two easts (or the east and west)" - a worst (type of) companion (indeed)!
حَتَّىٰٓ ḥattā Until
إِذَا idhā when
جَآءَنَا jāanā he comes to Us
قَالَ qāla he says
يَـٰلَيْتَ yālayta O would that
بَيْنِى baynī between me
وَبَيْنَكَ wabaynaka and between you
بُعْدَ buʿ'da (were the) distance
ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ l-mashriqayni (of) the East and the West
فَبِئْسَ fabi'sa How wretched is
ٱلْقَرِينُ l-qarīnu the companion

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 38) ➊ { حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَ … :} After being with Satan at all times in the world, on the Day of Resurrection, when the person who was blind to the remembrance of Allah will be presented before Allah along with his companion, he will say to him with regret and sorrow, "Would that there were the distance of the two Easts between me and you." By "the two Easts" is meant the East and the West. Both have been called "the two Easts," just as Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) are called "the two Umars," and dates and water are called "the two blacks." It can also mean two Easts, because there is a great distance between the place where the sun rises in winter and the place where it rises in summer, as He said: « رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَ رَبُّ الْمَغْرِبَيْنِ » [ الرحمان : ۱۷ ] "(He is) the Lord of the two Easts and the Lord of the two Wests."
{ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِيْنُ: ’’أَيْ بِئْسَ الْقَرِيْنُ أَنْتَ‘‘} That is, you are a bad companion, who, by becoming a friend, ruined and destroyed me and trapped me in eternal punishment. Some commentators have considered this to be the speech of Allah, interpreting it as: {’’ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِيْنُ هُوَ ‘‘} That is, so he is a bad companion.

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.

38. 1. The meaning is the distance between the east and the west; this disbeliever will say this on the Day of Resurrection, but what benefit will this admission have on that day?

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.

38. Until, when he comes to Us, he will say (to his companion): "Oh, would that there were between me and you the distance of the east and west [38]! What an evil companion you are!"

[38] That is, today he considers this evil companion to be his true well-wisher, but on the Day of Resurrection, when he will be brought before Us, only then will he realize what a terrible companion he was. Then, out of regret and anger, he will say to him: "Would that there were the distance of the earth and sky between me and you, and I had not spent even a moment in your company. At least today, get away from my sight. You are indeed a very evil companion."