سُوْرَةُ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ
Surah Ibrahim (14) — Ayah 15
وَٱسْتَفْتَحُوا۟ وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ ﴿15﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And they (the Messengers) sought victory and help [from their Lord (Allâh)]; and every obstinate, arrogant dictator (who refuses to believe in the Oneness of Allâh) was brought to a complete loss and destruction.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱسْتَفْتَحُوا۟
wa-is'taftaḥū
And they sought victory
وَخَابَ
wakhāba
and disappointed
كُلُّ
kullu
every
جَبَّارٍ
jabbārin
tyrant
عَنِيدٍۢ
ʿanīdin
obstinate
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.
(Ayah15){وَ اسْتَفْتَحُوْا …: } The meaning of "fath" in the Quran is both "victory and help" and also "decision." The meaning of {’’ اسْتَفْتَحُوْا ‘‘} is: they sought victory and help, or they sought a decision, and its subject can be either the prophets or the disbelievers. If the meaning is "victory and help," then it means that when numerous trials came, the prophets prayed to their Lord for victory and help, which was accepted. Allah said: «{ حَتّٰى يَقُوْلَ الرَّسُوْلُ وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مَعَهٗ مَتٰى نَصْرُ اللّٰهِ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيْبٌ }» [ البقرۃ : ۲۱۴ ] "Until the messenger and those who believed with him said, 'When will the help of Allah come?' Behold! Surely, the help of Allah is near." If the subject of {’’ اسْتَفْتَحُوْا ‘‘} is the disbelievers, then it means: "The disbelievers prayed to their patrons and helpers for victory and help, but they failed." If the meaning of "fath" is "decision," then it means that the prophets and those who believed with them prayed to Allah, as He said: «{ رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَ اَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْفٰتِحِيْنَ }» [ الأعراف : ۸۹ ] "Our Lord! Decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who decide." The result was that every rebellious and tyrannical enemy failed and was disappointed. Or it means that the disbelievers prayed to Allah for a decision, as He said: «{ وَ اِذْ قَالُوا اللّٰهُمَّ اِنْ كَانَ هٰذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَاَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ اَوِ ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ اَلِيْمٍ }» [ الأنفال : ۳۲ ] "And when they said, 'O Allah! If this is indeed the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring upon us a painful punishment.'" Any of these four meanings of {’’ اسْتَفْتَحُوْا ‘‘ } is correct, and all four meanings are found in different places in the Quran. See the miracle of the Quran, that a single word is used which applies to all four meanings. In short, the result in this world was that every rebellious and stubborn disbeliever failed and was disappointed. As for the outcome in the Hereafter, it is mentioned in the next verse.
