سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْقَافِ
Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) — Ayah 4
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ ۖ ٱئْتُونِى بِكِتَـٰبٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَـٰذَآ أَوْ أَثَـٰرَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿4﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to these pagans): "Think you about all that you invoke besides Allâh? Show me. What have they created of the earth? Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens? Bring me a Book (revealed before this), or some trace of knowledge (in support of your claims), if you are truthful!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلْ
qul
Say
أَرَءَيْتُم
ara-aytum
Do you see
مَّا
mā
what
تَدْعُونَ
tadʿūna
you call
مِن
min
besides
دُونِ
dūni
besides
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
أَرُونِى
arūnī
Show me
مَاذَا
mādhā
what
خَلَقُوا۟
khalaqū
they have created
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
أَمْ
am
or
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
شِرْكٌۭ
shir'kun
(is) any share
فِى
fī
in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ ۖ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
ٱئْتُونِى
i'tūnī
Bring me
بِكِتَـٰبٍۢ
bikitābin
a book
مِّن
min
from
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
هَـٰذَآ
hādhā
this
أَوْ
aw
or
أَثَـٰرَةٍۢ
athāratin
a trace
مِّنْ
min
of
عِلْمٍ
ʿil'min
knowledge
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
صَـٰدِقِينَ
ṣādiqīna
truthful
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. Ara'aytum means "inform me" or "show me," that is, apart from Allah, those idols or personalities whom you worship, tell me or show me what part they have had in the creation of the earth and the heavens. The meaning is that when they have no share even in the creation of the heavens and the earth, but rather the sole Creator of all is only Allah, then why do you associate these false deities with Allah in worship?
4. 2. That is, if this matter is written in any scripture revealed to a prophet or in any transmitted narration, then bring it forth so that your truthfulness may become clear. Some have interpreted "atharah min 'ilm" as a clear rational proof; in this case, "kitab" refers to a transmitted (textual) proof and "atharah min 'ilm" refers to a rational proof, meaning present either a rational or textual proof. The first meaning is based on "athar" being derived from "trace," so it is interpreted as a narration, or as "baqiyyah min 'ilm", meaning the remaining part of the teachings of previous prophets which has been transmitted through a reliable source, and if this matter is found in it.
4. 2. That is, if this matter is written in any scripture revealed to a prophet or in any transmitted narration, then bring it forth so that your truthfulness may become clear. Some have interpreted "atharah min 'ilm" as a clear rational proof; in this case, "kitab" refers to a transmitted (textual) proof and "atharah min 'ilm" refers to a rational proof, meaning present either a rational or textual proof. The first meaning is based on "athar" being derived from "trace," so it is interpreted as a narration, or as "baqiyyah min 'ilm", meaning the remaining part of the teachings of previous prophets which has been transmitted through a reliable source, and if this matter is found in it.
