سُوْرَةُ هُوْدٍ
Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 102
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَهِىَ ظَـٰلِمَةٌ ۚ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُۥٓ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ ﴿102﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) the towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, (and) severe.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَكَذَٰلِكَ
wakadhālika
And thus
أَخْذُ
akhdhu
(is) the seizure (of) your Lord
رَبِّكَ
rabbika
(is) the seizure (of) your Lord
إِذَآ
idhā
when
أَخَذَ
akhadha
He seizes
ٱلْقُرَىٰ
l-qurā
the cities
وَهِىَ
wahiya
while they
ظَـٰلِمَةٌ ۚ
ẓālimatun
(are) doing wrong
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
أَخْذَهُۥٓ
akhdhahu
His seizure
أَلِيمٌۭ
alīmun
(is) painful
شَدِيدٌ
shadīdun
(and) severe
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
The meaning of (Ayah 102){وَ كَذٰلِكَ اَخْذُ رَبِّكَ … : ’’اَخَذَ‘‘} is to seize suddenly and swiftly, as it is said: {’’ فُلَانٌ اَخَذَهُ الْمَوْتُ ‘‘} death seized so-and-so. That is, just as the seizing came upon the previous seven nations of the prophets (peace be upon them) due to their oppression, the seizing of your Lord upon any oppressive town (and its people) is just like that. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَيُمْلِيْ لِلظَّالِمِ حَتّٰی إِذَا أَخَذَهٗ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: « وَ كَذٰلِكَ اَخْذُ رَبِّكَ اِذَاۤ اَخَذَ الْقُرٰى وَ هِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ اِنَّ اَخْذَهٗۤ اَلِيْمٌ شَدِيْدٌ » ] [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : « و کذلک أخذ ربک…» : ۴۶۸۶۔ مسلم : ۲۵۸۳ ] "Allah Almighty gives respite to the oppressor, but when He finally seizes him, He does not let him escape." After that, he recited this verse." This verse includes every oppressor in every era. Someone from the Salaf said: "A kingdom can remain with disbelief, but not with oppression."
