Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Is he who walks prone (without seeing) on his face, more rightly guided, or he who (sees and) walks upright on the Straight Way (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism)?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَفَمَنafamanThen is he who
يَمْشِىyamshīwalks
مُكِبًّاmukibbanfallen
عَلَىٰʿalāon
وَجْهِهِۦٓwajhihihis face
أَهْدَىٰٓahdābetter guided
أَمَّنammanor (he) who
يَمْشِىyamshīwalks
سَوِيًّاsawiyyanupright
عَلَىٰʿalāon
صِرَٰطٍۢṣirāṭin(the) Path
مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢmus'taqīminStraight
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 22){ اَفَمَنْيَّمْشِيْمُكِبًّاعَلٰىوَجْهِهٖۤ … : ’’ مُكِبًّا ‘‘ ’’أَكَبَّيُكِبُّإِكْبَابًا‘‘} (verbs) To fall face down. Despite being in the mazeed feehi form, this verb is intransitive, while its basic form {’’كَبَّيَكُبُّكَبًّا‘‘} (n) is transitive, which means to make someone fall face down. {’’ اَهْدٰۤى ‘‘ ’’هَدٰييَهْدِيْهِدَايَةً‘‘} (d) is an elative noun, which generally comes in the meaning of an active participle, but sometimes it also comes in the meaning of a passive participle, and here it is in the meaning of a passive participle. Therefore, its meaning is not "one who gives more guidance" but "one who is more guided." This is the example of a monotheist believer and a polytheist disbeliever. Instead of walking on the straight path, the disbeliever, due to falling into the pits of misguidance, keeps stumbling and falling face down. How can such a person reach the intended destination? In contrast, the believer walks upright on the straight path of monotheism and Sunnah, and he sees his path and its surroundings from every direction—right, left, and ahead. He will certainly reach his intended destination, which is Paradise, as Allah Almighty has said in one place about the disbelievers: «وَنَحْشُرُهُمْيَوْمَالْقِيٰمَةِعَلٰىوُجُوْهِهِمْعُمْيًاوَّبُكْمًاوَّصُمًّامَاْوٰىهُمْجَهَنَّمُ »[ بني إسرائیل : ۹۷ ] "And on the Day of Resurrection We will gather them on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf; their abode will be Hell." And the reality is that the reason they will be raised on their faces in the Hereafter is that in the world too they used to walk the wrong way; walking upright on the straight path was not acceptable to them.
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.
22. 1. A person walking on his face, upside down, cannot see anything to his right or left, nor is he safe from stumbling. Can such a person reach his intended destination? Certainly not. In the same way, a person immersed in Allah's disobedience in this world will be deprived of success in the Hereafter. (2) One in whom there is no crookedness or deviation, and who can see ahead and to his right and left, it is clear that such a person will reach his intended destination, meaning the one who adopts the straight path of obedience to Allah will be successful in the Hereafter. Some say that this describes the condition of both the believer and the disbeliever on the Day of Resurrection: the disbelievers will be sent on their faces into Hell, and the believers will walk upright into Paradise.
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.
22. Is one who walks fallen on his face better guided, or one who walks upright on a straight path [25]?
[25] That is, a person can only traverse the path to success and the attainment of his goal if he walks on the straight path and walks upright. On the contrary, if someone starts walking on an uneven and crooked path, and that too face down or with his face lowered like cattle, then what hope can there be of reaching the intended destination? In this verse, in fact, the example of a monotheist and a polytheist is being given. The path of the monotheist is straight and clear, and he has clear guidance and the light of knowledge to walk upon it. In contrast, the polytheist does not have just one path but many, and all those paths can only be of darkness and misguidance. Then, instead of the light of knowledge, he has only conjectures and assumptions. On the Day of Gathering as well, there will be such a difference in the way both walk.
