سُوْرَةُ الْقَلَمِ

Surah Al-Qalam (68) — Ayah 28

The Pen · Meccan · Juz 29 · Page 565

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ﴿28﴾
The best among them said: "Did I not tell you: why say you not: Inshâ’ Allâh (If Allâh wills)."
قَالَ qāla Said
أَوْسَطُهُمْ awsaṭuhum (the) most moderate of them
أَلَمْ alam Did not
أَقُل aqul I tell
لَّكُمْ lakum you
لَوْلَا lawlā 'Why not
تُسَبِّحُونَ tusabbiḥūna you glorify (Allah)?'

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.

The meaning of {قَالَ اَوْسَطُهُمْ اَلَمْ اَقُلْ لَّكُمْ … : ’’ اَوْسَطُهُمْ ‘‘} is also "the middle one among them" and "the best among them," as it is said: «وَ كَذٰلِكَ جَعَلْنٰكُمْ اُمَّةً وَّسَطًا » [ البقرۃ : ۱۴۳ ] "And thus We made you the best nation." So, the one who was better among them had advised them at the time of their evil intention {’’ لَوْ لَا تُسَبِّحُوْنَ ‘‘} that why do you not glorify Allah and why do you not repent from this evil intention? But they did not accept his words, and now he reminded them of that statement. Some have interpreted {’’ لَوْ لَا تُسَبِّحُوْنَ ‘‘} to mean "why do you not say insha’Allah?" But even if they had recited "insha’Allah" after intending to pick all the fruit, it would have been of no benefit, so the correct meaning seems to be that he said, why do you not remember your Lord, His being free from every defect, especially from such miserliness and from the intention of depriving the poor, so that you too may be saved from this miserliness and baseness. One indication of the correctness of this meaning is that when their brother reminded them of his words, they tried to make up for not saying "Subhan Allah" at that time by saying {’’ سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّنَا‘‘}.

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.

28. 1 Some have taken tasbih to mean saying Insha Allah.

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.

The tafsir of this ayah is included with the following verse(s).