سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 4
مِن قَبْلُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَنزَلَ ٱلْفُرْقَانَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍ ﴿4﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Aforetime, as a guidance to mankind. And He sent down the criterion [of judgement between right and wrong (this Qur’ân)]. Truly, those who disbelieve in the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, for them there is a severe torment; and Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مِن
min
From
قَبْلُ
qablu
before (this)
هُدًۭى
hudan
(as) guidance
لِّلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for the mankind
وَأَنزَلَ
wa-anzala
And (He) revealed
ٱلْفُرْقَانَ ۗ
l-fur'qāna
the Criterion
إِنَّ
inna
Verily
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieve[d]
بِـَٔايَـٰتِ
biāyāti
in (the) Verses
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
عَذَابٌۭ
ʿadhābun
(is) a punishment
شَدِيدٌۭ ۗ
shadīdun
severe
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَزِيزٌۭ
ʿazīzun
(is) All-Mighty
ذُو
dhū
All-Able
ٱنتِقَامٍ
intiqāmin
(of) retribution
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.
4. 1. This book confirms the books that were revealed to the previous prophets, meaning it acknowledges the truth of what was recorded in them and the prophecies mentioned therein, which clearly means that this Qur'an is also revealed by the same Being who sent down many books before. If it had been from someone else or the result of human efforts, there would have been contradiction instead of consistency among them.
4. 2. That is, at their time, the Torah and the Gospel were certainly a source of guidance for people because that was the very purpose of their revelation. However, after this, it is clarified again by saying that now the era of the Torah and the Gospel has ended, now the Qur'an has been revealed, it is the Furqan, and now only it is the criterion for distinguishing truth from falsehood. Without believing in it as true, no one is a Muslim or a believer in the sight of Allah.
4. 2. That is, at their time, the Torah and the Gospel were certainly a source of guidance for people because that was the very purpose of their revelation. However, after this, it is clarified again by saying that now the era of the Torah and the Gospel has ended, now the Qur'an has been revealed, it is the Furqan, and now only it is the criterion for distinguishing truth from falsehood. Without believing in it as true, no one is a Muslim or a believer in the sight of Allah.
