Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O assembly of jinn and men! If you have power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allâh)!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰمَعْشَرَyāmaʿsharaO assembly
ٱلْجِنِّl-jini(of) the jinn
وَٱلْإِنسِwal-insiand the men
إِنِiniIf
ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْis'taṭaʿtumyou are able
أَنanto
تَنفُذُوا۟tanfudhūpass beyond
مِنْmin[of]
أَقْطَارِaqṭāri(the) regions
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِl-samāwāti(of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِwal-arḍiand the earth
فَٱنفُذُوا۟ ۚfa-unfudhūthen pass
لَاlāNot
تَنفُذُونَtanfudhūnayou (can) pass
إِلَّاillāexcept
بِسُلْطَـٰنٍۢbisul'ṭāninby authority
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 33) { يٰمَعْشَرَالْجِنِّوَالْاِنْسِاِنِاسْتَطَعْتُمْ …:’’مَعْشَرٌ‘‘ ’’عَشْرٌ‘‘} is on the pattern of {’’مَفْعَلٌ‘‘}, it refers to a large multitude, because it contains many tens, which are counted one after another in decades. {’’ اَقْطَارِ ‘‘ ’’قَطْرٌ‘‘} is the plural of it, meaning edge. {’’سُلْطَانٌ‘‘} means power and dominance. That is, O assembly of jinn and humans! If you can escape from the edges of the heavens and the earth to avoid death in this world, then escape, but you will only be able to escape by overpowering Allah, which is impossible, as He said: « اَيْنَمَاتَكُوْنُوْايُدْرِكْكُّمُالْمَوْتُوَلَوْكُنْتُمْفِيْبُرُوْجٍمُّشَيَّدَةٍ »[ النساء : ۷۸ ] "Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you are in fortified towers." And in the Field of Gathering, if you can escape from Allah’s reckoning and His grasp by fleeing from the edges of the heavens and the earth, then flee... A similar meaning is found in this verse, He said: « فَاِذَابَرِقَالْبَصَرُ (7) وَخَسَفَالْقَمَرُ (8) وَجُمِعَالشَّمْسُوَالْقَمَرُ (9) يَقُوْلُالْاِنْسَانُيَوْمَىِٕذٍاَيْنَالْمَفَرُّ (10) كَلَّالَاوَزَرَ (11) اِلٰىرَبِّكَيَوْمَىِٕذِالْمُسْتَقَرُّ»[ القیامۃ : ۷ تا ۱۲ ] "Then when the sight is dazed. And the moon is eclipsed. And the sun and the moon are joined together. Man will say that day, 'Where is the place of escape?' No! There is no refuge. That day, the return is only to your Lord." Nowadays, experiments are being conducted to go to the moon or some other planet by rocket or spacecraft, and some people say regarding this that {’’ لَاتَنْفُذُوْنَاِلَّابِسُلْطٰنٍ ‘‘} (you will not be able to escape without dominance) means that it is possible to escape from {’’ اَقْطَارِالسَّمٰوٰتِوَالْاَرْضِ ‘‘} through these machines, whereas these efforts have nothing to do with the meaning of the verse. These poor souls are just wandering in the space between the earth and the heavens; reaching the edges of the heavens and the earth is far beyond. Then that insignificant particle, whose very breath is not in its own control, if it talks about escaping from {’’ اَقْطَارِالسَّمٰوٰتِوَالْاَرْضِ ‘‘} by its own power, then it can only be said:
You speak of aspiring to divinity, But your true status is only of grandeur.
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.
33. 1. This warning is also a blessing, as it causes the evildoer to refrain from committing sins and the righteous to perform more good deeds. (2) That is, if you can escape from Allah’s decree and destiny, then go ahead and try, but who has this power? And after running away, where will you go? Which place is there that is outside of Allah’s control? Some have said that this will be said in the Field of Gathering, when the angels will have surrounded the people from all sides. Both interpretations are authentic in their own right.
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.
33. O assembly of jinn and mankind! If you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will not pass except with [23] great power [22].
[22] The Literal Meaning of ﴿نفذ﴾:
﴿نفذ﴾ means to pass through from one side to the other. For example, if one end of an iron rod is heated in fire, after a short while the heat by itself reaches the other end. And "nifaz" means the enforcement of something with power, as it is said that such-and-such law has been enforced in this country from yesterday, and it also means for something to enter swiftly and pass through. For example, electric current passes through from one side to the other. [23] ﴿سُلْطٰنٍ﴾ also means dominance and intense power, and also an authority letter or a permit of passage. Now, if this verse is applied to this material world, then it would mean that to reach the edges of the earth and the heavens, utmost power is required, just as man has succeeded in reaching the moon, which is the closest satellite of the earth, and for that, utmost power and capability are needed. And such capability can never come within you that you could cross ﴿اَقْـطَارالسَّمٰوٰتِوَالْاَرْضِ﴾. And if you wish, you may try with all your might. And if this verse is connected to the previous verse, that is, the reckoning, then it would mean that none of you can escape from the reckoning and Allah’s grasp by running here and there, except for the one who receives the permit of Paradise. In that case, he would not even need to run away.
