سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 144
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ ﴿144﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allâh; and Allâh will give reward to those who are grateful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
مُحَمَّدٌ
muḥammadun
(is) Muhammad
إِلَّا
illā
except
رَسُولٌۭ
rasūlun
a Messenger
قَدْ
qad
certainly
خَلَتْ
khalat
passed away
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِهِ
qablihi
before him
ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ
l-rusulu
[the] (other) Messengers
أَفَإِي۟ن
afa-in
So if
مَّاتَ
māta
he died
أَوْ
aw
or
قُتِلَ
qutila
is slain
ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ
inqalabtum
will you turn back
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
on
أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ ۚ
aʿqābikum
your heels
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يَنقَلِبْ
yanqalib
turns back
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
عَقِبَيْهِ
ʿaqibayhi
his heels
فَلَن
falan
then never
يَضُرَّ
yaḍurra
will he harm
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
شَيْـًۭٔا ۗ
shayan
(in) anything
وَسَيَجْزِى
wasayajzī
And will reward
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
l-shākirīna
the grateful ones
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.
144. 1 Muhammad ﷺ is only a Messenger — that is, his distinction is also the attribute of Messengership. It is not that he is above human characteristics and endowed with divine attributes such that he would not have to face death.
144. 2 Among the reasons for the defeat in the Battle of Uhud was also this: the disbelievers spread the rumor that Muhammad ﷺ had been killed. When this news spread among the Muslims, it caused some of them to lose heart and withdraw from the battle. Upon this, this verse was revealed: the Prophet ﷺ being killed at the hands of the disbelievers or death befalling him is not something new. Previous prophets (peace be upon them) have also faced death and been killed. If you ﷺ (hypothetically) also face this, will you then turn back from this religion? Remember, whoever turns back will only harm himself; he will not harm Allah in the least. At the time of the Prophet’s ﷺ passing, when Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was, in the intensity of his emotions, denying the Prophet’s death, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) acted with great wisdom, stood by the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and recited these very verses, which affected Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) as well, and he felt as if these verses had just been revealed.
144. 3 That is, those who remained steadfast, who demonstrated patience and perseverance, and practically expressed gratitude for Allah’s blessings.
144. 2 Among the reasons for the defeat in the Battle of Uhud was also this: the disbelievers spread the rumor that Muhammad ﷺ had been killed. When this news spread among the Muslims, it caused some of them to lose heart and withdraw from the battle. Upon this, this verse was revealed: the Prophet ﷺ being killed at the hands of the disbelievers or death befalling him is not something new. Previous prophets (peace be upon them) have also faced death and been killed. If you ﷺ (hypothetically) also face this, will you then turn back from this religion? Remember, whoever turns back will only harm himself; he will not harm Allah in the least. At the time of the Prophet’s ﷺ passing, when Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was, in the intensity of his emotions, denying the Prophet’s death, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) acted with great wisdom, stood by the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and recited these very verses, which affected Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) as well, and he felt as if these verses had just been revealed.
144. 3 That is, those who remained steadfast, who demonstrated patience and perseverance, and practically expressed gratitude for Allah’s blessings.
