Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They thought there will be no Fitnah (trial or punishment), so they became blind and deaf; after that Allâh turned to them (with Forgiveness); yet again many of them became blind and deaf. And Allâh is the All-Seer of what they do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَحَسِبُوٓا۟waḥasibūAnd they thought
أَلَّاallāthat not
تَكُونَtakūnawill be (for them)
فِتْنَةٌۭfit'natuna trial
فَعَمُوا۟faʿamūso they became blind
وَصَمُّوا۟waṣammūand they became deaf
ثُمَّthummaThen
تَابَtābaturned
ٱللَّهُl-lahuAllah
عَلَيْهِمْʿalayhimto them
ثُمَّthummathen (again)
عَمُوا۟ʿamūthey became blind
وَصَمُّوا۟waṣammūand they became deaf
كَثِيرٌۭkathīrunmany
مِّنْهُمْ ۚmin'humof them
وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuAnd Allah
بَصِيرٌۢbaṣīrun(is) All-Seer
بِمَاbimāof what
يَعْمَلُونَyaʿmalūnathey do
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 71) ➊ The original meaning of {وَحَسِبُوْۤااَلَّاتَكُوْنَفِتْنَةٌ: ’’ فِتْنَةٌ ‘‘} is "trial." The meaning is that they thought, "No matter what sins we commit, even if we kill the prophets, since we are the sons and beloved ones of Allah, no kind of misfortune, evil, or calamity such as the dominance of enemies will ever befall us in this world." (Kabir) ➋ {فَعَمُوْاوَصَمُّوْا:} But due to being blind and deaf to the truth, calamity befell them. The first time, Allah Almighty set Nebuchadnezzar upon them, who burned their Masjid al-Aqsa, looted their wealth, and took the majority of them as slaves to Babylon. See Surah Bani Isra'il (4 to 8). ➌ {ثُمَّتَابَاللّٰهُعَلَيْهِمْ:} That is, Allah Almighty delivered them from the slavery of Nebuchadnezzar, and they reformed themselves and remained upright for some time. ➍ {ثُمَّعَمُوْاوَصَمُّوْاكَثِيْرٌمِّنْهُمْ ……:} That is, then once again they reverted to their former rebellion, to the extent that they killed great prophets like Zakariya and Yahya (peace be upon them), and behaved extremely disrespectfully towards 'Isa (peace be upon him), even attempting to kill him as well. Some have specified the first period of misguidance with the time of Zakariya and Yahya (peace be upon them), and the second period with the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and here in {’’ كَثِيْرٌمِّنْهُمْ ‘‘} there is an indication that some among them became truth-seeking Muslims, such as 'Abdullah bin Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) and his companions. And it is possible that: «لَتُفْسِدُنَّفِيالْاَرْضِمَرَّتَيْنِ»[ بنی إسرائیل : ۴ ] ("Indeed, you will surely cause corruption on the earth twice") refers to these two periods. (Kabir) «وَاللّٰهُبَصِيْرٌۢبِمَايَعْمَلُوْنَ» The purpose of this is to warn them of Allah and His punishment.
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.
71. 1. That is, they thought that there would be no punishment. But according to the aforementioned divine principle, this punishment occurred: they became even more blind to seeing the truth and even more deaf to hearing the truth, and after repentance, when they repeated the same action, the same punishment was again imposed.
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.
71. And they thought that no trial (or punishment) would result [118], so they became blind and deaf. Then Allah turned to them in mercy, but again many of them became (even more) blind and deaf. And Allah is All-Seeing of what they do.
[118] The Killing of Sayyiduna Zakariya and Yahya After Nebuchadnezzar:
They had assumed that since they were the descendants of the Prophets, no matter what they did, the punishment of Allah could not befall them. This belief emboldened them to commit all kinds of crimes. Then, the wrath of Allah descended upon them in the form of Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed their kingdom and took countless people captive to Babylon. For a long time, they endured the hardships of imprisonment. Eventually, when they turned back to Allah, He forgave their sins, and with the help of the kings of Persia, they were freed from the captivity of Nebuchadnezzar. Then, when Allah bestowed His mercy upon them and they began to live a life of comfort and ease, they once again exceeded their previous disbelief and disobedience. They killed both Sayyiduna Zakariya and Sayyiduna Yahya, and made every possible effort to crucify Sayyiduna Isa, and in their own estimation, they succeeded in crucifying him.