سُوْرَةُ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ
Surah Ibrahim (14) — Ayah 4
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِۦ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ ۖ فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿4﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them. Then Allâh misleads whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
We sent
مِن
min
any
رَّسُولٍ
rasūlin
Messenger
إِلَّا
illā
except
بِلِسَانِ
bilisāni
with the language
قَوْمِهِۦ
qawmihi
(of) his people
لِيُبَيِّنَ
liyubayyina
so that he might make clear
لَهُمْ ۖ
lahum
for them
فَيُضِلُّ
fayuḍillu
Then Allah lets go astray
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Then Allah lets go astray
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
He wills
وَيَهْدِى
wayahdī
and guides
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
He wills
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
ٱلْعَزِيزُ
l-ʿazīzu
(is) the All-Mighty
ٱلْحَكِيمُ
l-ḥakīmu
the All-Wise
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.
(Ayah4) ➊ {لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ:} So that he may explain it to them clearly and they may understand it well and the proof may be established against them. All the messengers who were sent before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) were sent to their own people; that messenger would be an individual from that nation and would speak their language. Although the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) prophethood is general and for all jinn and mankind until the Day of Judgment, his nation, in which he was born and which was his first audience, spoke the Arabic language. Therefore, according to the natural order, he conveyed Allah’s message to them in Arabic, so that first this nation would understand the message and then become a means to convey and explain it to others. If the Qur’an had been revealed in all languages, the doors of dispute, disagreement, and distortion of rulings would have opened, and there could never have been any centrality for the call of Islam anywhere. After being revealed in Arabic, the learning of Arabic by other nations (which is easier than all other languages) or its translation into other languages is sufficient for the guidance of all nations, as, all praise is due to Allah, is happening.
➋ { فَيُضِلُّ اللّٰهُ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ …:} That is, although every prophet presents his message in the language which the whole nation understands, the matter of guidance and misguidance is in the hands of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty alone gives guidance to whom He wills and leaves whom He wills in misguidance. Even today, many non-Arab nations are seen as supporters and helpers of Islam, while the Arab countries, despite their service and propagation of the Arabic language, are turning away and becoming distant from Islam. (Except whom Allah wills)
➋ { فَيُضِلُّ اللّٰهُ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ …:} That is, although every prophet presents his message in the language which the whole nation understands, the matter of guidance and misguidance is in the hands of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty alone gives guidance to whom He wills and leaves whom He wills in misguidance. Even today, many non-Arab nations are seen as supporters and helpers of Islam, while the Arab countries, despite their service and propagation of the Arabic language, are turning away and becoming distant from Islam. (Except whom Allah wills)
