سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ

Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 23

The Spoils of War · Medinan · Juz 9 · Page 179

‹
›
وَلَوْ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَّأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ ﴿23﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

Had Allâh known of any good in them, He would indeed have made them listen; and even if He had made them listen, they would but have turned away with aversion (to the truth).

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَلَوْ walaw And if
عَلِمَ ʿalima (had) known
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
فِيهِمْ fīhim in them
خَيْرًۭا khayran any good
لَّأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ la-asmaʿahum surely, He (would) have made them hear
وَلَوْ walaw And if
أَسْمَعَهُمْ asmaʿahum He had made them hear
لَتَوَلَّوا۟ latawallaw surely they would have turned away
وَّهُم wahum while they
مُّعْرِضُونَ muʿ'riḍūna (were) averse

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 23) {وَ لَوْ عَلِمَ اللّٰهُ فِيْهِمْ خَيْرًا لَّاَسْمَعَهُمْ … :} That is, if there had been goodness in their hearts, meaning a desire for the truth, then Allah would have made their hearing beneficial for them and granted them the ability to have faith and act accordingly. Earlier, {’’ لَاَسْمَعَهُمْ ‘‘} (He would surely have made them hear) refers to that hearing which is from the heart and is beneficial, and {’’ لَوْ اَسْمَعَهُمْ ‘‘} (and if He had made them hear) refers to merely making them hear with their ears, meaning if He had made them hear in the same state in which there is no goodness within them, then surely they would have turned away and walked off. That is, these people, by continuously committing sins, have destroyed within themselves the very capacity which serves as the seed for faith and following the path of guidance. Then, when there is no seed, what hope can there be for fruit? Thus, in another verse it is said: «{ كَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلٰى قُلُوْبِهِمْ مَّا كَانُوْا يَكْسِبُوْنَ }» [ المطففین : ۱۴ ] "Beware! Their evil deeds have become a rust upon their hearts."

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.

23. 1 That is, He would have made their hearing beneficial and grants them correct understanding, through which they would have accepted the truth and adopt it. But since there is no goodness, i.e., no desire for the truth within them, they are deprived of correct understanding.

23. 2 The first hearing refers to beneficial hearing. This second hearing refers to absolute hearing. That is, even if Allah ﷻ makes them hear the truth, since there is no desire for the truth within them, they will continue to turn away from it as before.

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.

23. Had Allah seen any good in them, He would have made them hear [22]. But even if He had made them hear, they would have turned away in aversion.

[22] Ultimately, such people no longer possess any essence of goodness, and if they had allowed any such essence to remain within themselves, Allah Almighty would have enabled them to listen as well. But their current state is such that even if the verses of Allah are recited and explained to them, these stubborn and hostile people, even after understanding, are not willing to accept and acknowledge them.
← Previous All Surahs Next →
Telegram
Facebook