سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 46
مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَٰعِنَا لَيًّۢا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ وَٱنظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿46﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Among those who are Jews, there are some who displace words from (their) right places and say: "We hear your word (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and disobey," and "Hear and let you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) hear nothing." And Râ‘ina with a twist of their tongues and as a mockery of the religion (Islâm). And if only they had said: "We hear and obey", and "Do make us understand," it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allâh has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not except a few.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مِّنَ
mina
Of
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
هَادُوا۟
hādū
are Jews
يُحَرِّفُونَ
yuḥarrifūna
they distort
ٱلْكَلِمَ
l-kalima
the words
عَن
ʿan
from
مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ
mawāḍiʿihi
their places
وَيَقُولُونَ
wayaqūlūna
and they say
سَمِعْنَا
samiʿ'nā
We hear[d]
وَعَصَيْنَا
waʿaṣaynā
and we disobey[ed]
وَٱسْمَعْ
wa-is'maʿ
and "Hear
غَيْرَ
ghayra
not
مُسْمَعٍۢ
mus'maʿin
to be heard
وَرَٰعِنَا
warāʿinā
and "Raina
لَيًّۢا
layyan
twisting
بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ
bi-alsinatihim
[with] their tongues
وَطَعْنًۭا
waṭaʿnan
and defaming
فِى
fī
[in]
ٱلدِّينِ ۚ
l-dīni
the religion
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
أَنَّهُمْ
annahum
[that] they
قَالُوا۟
qālū
(had) said
سَمِعْنَا
samiʿ'nā
We hear[d]
وَأَطَعْنَا
wa-aṭaʿnā
and we obey[ed]
وَٱسْمَعْ
wa-is'maʿ
and "Hear
وَٱنظُرْنَا
wa-unẓur'nā
and look (at) us
لَكَانَ
lakāna
surely it (would) have been
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
better
لَّهُمْ
lahum
for them
وَأَقْوَمَ
wa-aqwama
and more suitable
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
[And] but
لَّعَنَهُمُ
laʿanahumu
cursed them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِكُفْرِهِمْ
bikuf'rihim
for their disbelief
فَلَا
falā
so not
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
they believe
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a few
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.
46. 1 Among the wickedness and mischiefs of the Jews was also this: that along with saying 'we have heard', they would add, 'but we will disobey', meaning we will not obey. They would say this in their hearts, or to their companions, or, committing an audacious insolence, say it openly. Similarly, غَيْرُ مُسْمَعٍ (may your words not be heard) they would say as a curse. That is, may your words not be accepted. For the explanation of راعنا, see the footnote of Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 14.
46. 2 That is, those who believe are very few. It has already been mentioned that the number of believers among the Jews did not even reach ten. Or it means that they believe in very few things, whereas beneficial faith is that one believes in all matters.
46. 2 That is, those who believe are very few. It has already been mentioned that the number of believers among the Jews did not even reach ten. Or it means that they believe in very few things, whereas beneficial faith is that one believes in all matters.
