سُوْرَةُ الرَّعْدِ
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 6
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِمُ ٱلْمَثُلَـٰتُ ۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿6﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They ask you to hasten the evil before the good, while (many) exemplary punishments have indeed occurred before them. But verily, your Lord is full of Forgiveness for mankind in spite of their wrong-doing. And verily, your Lord is (also) Severe in punishment.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ
wayastaʿjilūnaka
And they ask you to hasten
بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ
bil-sayi-ati
the evil
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
ٱلْحَسَنَةِ
l-ḥasanati
the good
وَقَدْ
waqad
and verily
خَلَتْ
khalat
has occurred
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِهِمُ
qablihimu
before them
ٱلْمَثُلَـٰتُ ۗ
l-mathulātu
[the] similar punishments
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
And indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
لَذُو
ladhū
(is) full
مَغْفِرَةٍۢ
maghfiratin
(of) forgiveness
لِّلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for mankind
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
for
ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ
ẓul'mihim
their wrongdoing
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
and indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
لَشَدِيدُ
lashadīdu
(is) severe
ٱلْعِقَابِ
l-ʿiqābi
(in) the penalty
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.
(Ayah6) ➊ By {وَيَسْتَعْجِلُوْنَكَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ … :’’ اَلسَّيِّئَةُ ‘‘} is meant a bad state, such as punishment, and by {’’ الْحَسَنَةِ ‘‘} is meant a good state, such as well-being and prosperity. The singular of {’’ الْمَثُلٰتُ ‘‘} is { ’’ مَثُلَةٌ ‘‘}, on the pattern of {’’ سَمُرَةٌ ‘‘}, meaning severe punishment and disgraceful torment, which descends upon a person and makes him an example and lesson for others to refrain from evil deeds. {’’اِسْتِعْجَالٌ‘‘ } means to demand the bringing of something before its appointed time, that is, their rebellion has reached such a level that, in denial and mockery, instead of asking for well-being and safety, they demand the punishment to come first. The Qur’an mentions such demands of the polytheists in several places, for example, Surah Al-Anfal (32), Surah Al-Ankabut (53, 54), and Surah An-Naml (46). Read the translation and commentary of these verses.
➋ {وَ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمُ الْمَثُلٰتُ : } in which there is ample material for them to take heed. In Al-Mawdhih it is stated: “Exemplary punishments have occurred,” meaning such punishments have come that their stories have become proverbial.
➌ The tanween on {وَ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُوْ مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلٰى ظُلْمِهِمْ : ’’ مَغْفِرَةٍ ‘‘} is for magnification, meaning Allah is so great in forgiveness that if He were to seize people for their wrongdoing, not a single living being would remain on earth. He said: «{ وَ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ وَّ لٰكِنْ يُّؤَخِّرُهُمْ اِلٰۤى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَاْخِرُوْنَ سَاعَةً وَّ لَا يَسْتَقْدِمُوْنَ}» [ النحل : ۶۱] “And if Allah were to seize people for their wrongdoing, He would not leave upon it any moving creature, but He defers them for an appointed term; and when their term comes, they will not remain behind an hour nor precede [it].” And see the last verse of Surah Fatir. He keeps granting respite, perhaps they may turn back, repent, and His punishment is also extremely severe. It is understood that the path of safety and security lies in moderation between hope and fear; a person should have hope in Allah’s forgiveness and also fear His punishment. The reality is that if there were no hope in Allah’s pardon and forbearance, no one’s life would be pleasant, and if there were no fear of His punishment, everyone would sin without hesitation.
➋ {وَ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمُ الْمَثُلٰتُ : } in which there is ample material for them to take heed. In Al-Mawdhih it is stated: “Exemplary punishments have occurred,” meaning such punishments have come that their stories have become proverbial.
➌ The tanween on {وَ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُوْ مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلٰى ظُلْمِهِمْ : ’’ مَغْفِرَةٍ ‘‘} is for magnification, meaning Allah is so great in forgiveness that if He were to seize people for their wrongdoing, not a single living being would remain on earth. He said: «{ وَ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ وَّ لٰكِنْ يُّؤَخِّرُهُمْ اِلٰۤى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَاْخِرُوْنَ سَاعَةً وَّ لَا يَسْتَقْدِمُوْنَ}» [ النحل : ۶۱] “And if Allah were to seize people for their wrongdoing, He would not leave upon it any moving creature, but He defers them for an appointed term; and when their term comes, they will not remain behind an hour nor precede [it].” And see the last verse of Surah Fatir. He keeps granting respite, perhaps they may turn back, repent, and His punishment is also extremely severe. It is understood that the path of safety and security lies in moderation between hope and fear; a person should have hope in Allah’s forgiveness and also fear His punishment. The reality is that if there were no hope in Allah’s pardon and forbearance, no one’s life would be pleasant, and if there were no fear of His punishment, everyone would sin without hesitation.
