سُوْرَةُ الْمُجَادَلَةِ
Surah Al-Mujaadila (58) — Ayah 8
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نُهُوا۟ عَنِ ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَيَتَنَـٰجَوْنَ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا ٱللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ ۚ حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿8﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden, and conspired together for sin and wrong doing and disobedience to the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allâh greets you not, and say within themselves: "Why should Allâh punish us not for what we say?" Hell will be sufficient for them; they will burn therein. And worst indeed is that destination!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلَمْ
alam
Do not
تَرَ
tara
you see
إِلَى
ilā
[to]
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
نُهُوا۟
nuhū
were forbidden
عَنِ
ʿani
from
ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ
l-najwā
secret counsels
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يَعُودُونَ
yaʿūdūna
they return
لِمَا
limā
to what
نُهُوا۟
nuhū
they were forbidden
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
from [it]
وَيَتَنَـٰجَوْنَ
wayatanājawna
and they hold secret counsels
بِٱلْإِثْمِ
bil-ith'mi
for sin
وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ
wal-ʿud'wāni
and aggression
وَمَعْصِيَتِ
wamaʿṣiyati
and disobedience
ٱلرَّسُولِ
l-rasūli
(to) the Messenger
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
جَآءُوكَ
jāūka
they come to you
حَيَّوْكَ
ḥayyawka
they greet you
بِمَا
bimā
with what
لَمْ
lam
not
يُحَيِّكَ
yuḥayyika
greets you
بِهِ
bihi
therewith
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
وَيَقُولُونَ
wayaqūlūna
and they say
فِىٓ
fī
among
أَنفُسِهِمْ
anfusihim
themselves
لَوْلَا
lawlā
Why (does) not
يُعَذِّبُنَا
yuʿadhibunā
Allah punish us
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah punish us
بِمَا
bimā
for what
نَقُولُ ۚ
naqūlu
we say
حَسْبُهُمْ
ḥasbuhum
Sufficient (for) them
جَهَنَّمُ
jahannamu
(is) Hell
يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ
yaṣlawnahā
they will burn in it
فَبِئْسَ
fabi'sa
and worst is
ٱلْمَصِيرُ
l-maṣīru
the destination
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.
8. 1. By this are meant the Jews and hypocrites of Madinah. When Muslims would pass by them, they would gather together and whisper among themselves in such a way that Muslims would think perhaps they were plotting something against them, or that an enemy had attacked a Muslim army and caused them harm, and news of this had reached them. Muslims would become fearful of these things. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ forbade such whispering. But after a short while, they resumed this reprehensible practice. In this verse, their very behavior is being described.
8. 2. That is, their whispering is not about righteousness and piety, but is based on sin, transgression, and disobedience to the Messenger. For example, backbiting, slander, indecent talk, inciting one another to disobey the Messenger of Allah, etc.
8. 3. That is, Allah has taught the way of greeting as "as-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah," but when the Jews would come to the Prophet, instead of this, they would say "as-sam 'alaykum" or "alayk" (may death be upon you). Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would reply only with "wa 'alaykum" or "wa 'alayka" (and upon you as well), and he also instructed the Muslims that when any of the People of the Book greet you, reply with "wa 'alayk," meaning "upon you is what you said" (Sahih Bukhari).
8. 4. That is, they say among themselves or in their hearts that if he were a true Prophet, then Allah would certainly have seized us for this vile act.
8. 5. Allah said that if, according to His will and perfect wisdom, He has not seized them immediately in this world, will they also escape the punishment of Hell in the Hereafter? No, certainly not. Hell is awaiting them, into which they will enter.
8. 2. That is, their whispering is not about righteousness and piety, but is based on sin, transgression, and disobedience to the Messenger. For example, backbiting, slander, indecent talk, inciting one another to disobey the Messenger of Allah, etc.
8. 3. That is, Allah has taught the way of greeting as "as-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah," but when the Jews would come to the Prophet, instead of this, they would say "as-sam 'alaykum" or "alayk" (may death be upon you). Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would reply only with "wa 'alaykum" or "wa 'alayka" (and upon you as well), and he also instructed the Muslims that when any of the People of the Book greet you, reply with "wa 'alayk," meaning "upon you is what you said" (Sahih Bukhari).
8. 4. That is, they say among themselves or in their hearts that if he were a true Prophet, then Allah would certainly have seized us for this vile act.
8. 5. Allah said that if, according to His will and perfect wisdom, He has not seized them immediately in this world, will they also escape the punishment of Hell in the Hereafter? No, certainly not. Hell is awaiting them, into which they will enter.
