سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 105
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿105﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allâh, then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
Upon you
أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ
anfusakum
(is to guard) yourselves
لَا
lā
Not
يَضُرُّكُم
yaḍurrukum
will harm you
مَّن
man
(those) who
ضَلَّ
ḍalla
(have gone) astray
إِذَا
idhā
when
ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ
ih'tadaytum
you have been guided
إِلَى
ilā
To
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَرْجِعُكُمْ
marjiʿukum
(is) your return
جَمِيعًۭا
jamīʿan
all
فَيُنَبِّئُكُم
fayunabbi-ukum
then He will inform you
بِمَا
bimā
of what
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you used to
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
do
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.
15. 1. Some people, due to the apparent words, have developed the misconception that if one reforms oneself, that is sufficient. Enjoining good and forbidding evil is not necessary. But this meaning is not correct because the duty of enjoining good is also extremely important. If a Muslim abandons this very duty, then how will the one who abandons it remain steadfast on guidance? When the Quran has set the condition (when you yourselves are following guidance). Therefore, when this matter came to the knowledge of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ, he said, "O people! You are using the verse in the wrong context. I have heard the Prophet ﷺ say that when people see evil and do not try to change it, it is near that Allah will seize them with His punishment." Therefore, the correct meaning of the verse is that if, despite your advising, people do not adopt the path of righteousness or do not refrain from evil, then it is not harmful to you as long as you yourself remain steadfast on righteousness and abstain from evil. However, in one situation, abandoning enjoining good and forbidding evil is permissible: when a person does not find within himself the strength for it and his life is in danger because of it. In this situation, under فان لم یستطع فبقلبہ وذلک اضعف الایمان, there is allowance for it. The verse also accommodates this situation.
