سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ
Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 35
وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِىَ نَفَقًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۚ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ ﴿35﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If their aversion (from you, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and from that with which you have been sent) is hard on you, (and you cannot be patient of their harm to you), then if you were able to seek a tunnel in the earth or a ladder to the sky, so that you may bring them a sign (and you cannot do it, so be patient). And had Allâh willed, He could have gathered them together (all) on true guidance, so be not you one of those who are Al-Jâhilûn (the ignorant).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
كَانَ
kāna
is
كَبُرَ
kabura
difficult
عَلَيْكَ
ʿalayka
for you
إِعْرَاضُهُمْ
iʿ'rāḍuhum
their aversion
فَإِنِ
fa-ini
then if
ٱسْتَطَعْتَ
is'taṭaʿta
you are able
أَن
an
to
تَبْتَغِىَ
tabtaghiya
seek
نَفَقًۭا
nafaqan
a tunnel
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
أَوْ
aw
or
سُلَّمًۭا
sullaman
a ladder
فِى
fī
into
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
the sky
فَتَأْتِيَهُم
fatatiyahum
so that you bring to them
بِـَٔايَةٍۢ ۚ
biāyatin
a Sign
وَلَوْ
walaw
But if
شَآءَ
shāa
(had) willed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
لَجَمَعَهُمْ
lajamaʿahum
surely He (would) have gathered them
عَلَى
ʿalā
on
ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۚ
l-hudā
the guidance
فَلَا
falā
So (do) not
تَكُونَنَّ
takūnanna
be
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
l-jāhilīna
the ignorant
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.
35. 1. The burden and hardship that the Prophet ﷺ experienced due to the denial (rejection) by the opponents and disbelievers is being addressed here by Allah, stating that this was destined to happen by Allah’s will and decree, and without Allah’s command, you cannot persuade them to accept Islam. Even if you were to dig a tunnel or set up a ladder to the sky and bring them a sign, firstly, it is impossible for you to do so, and even if, hypothetically, you were to do it, they still would not believe. Because their not believing is under Allah’s wisdom and will, the full scope of which human intellect and understanding cannot grasp. However, one apparent wisdom in this is that Allah is testing them by granting them freedom of choice and will; otherwise, it would not be difficult for Allah to set all humans on the path of guidance. For Him, this could be done in the blink of an eye with the word “Kun.”
35. 2. That is, do not grieve or be overly saddened by their disbelief, because it is related to Allah’s will and decree, so leave it to Allah; He knows best the wisdom and benefit in it.
35. 2. That is, do not grieve or be overly saddened by their disbelief, because it is related to Allah’s will and decree, so leave it to Allah; He knows best the wisdom and benefit in it.
