سُوْرَةُ الْحِجْرِ
Surah Al-Hijr (15) — Ayah 49
۞ نَبِّئْ عِبَادِىٓ أَنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿49﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Declare (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ نَبِّئْ
nabbi
Inform
عِبَادِىٓ
ʿibādī
My slaves
أَنِّىٓ
annī
that I
أَنَا
anā
I am
ٱلْغَفُورُ
l-ghafūru
the Oft-Forgiving
ٱلرَّحِيمُ
l-raḥīmu
the Most Merciful
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.
(Ayah 50,49) ➊ {نَبِّئْ عِبَادِيْۤ اَنِّيْۤ اَنَا الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ … : ’’نَبَأٌ‘‘ } refers to a special and important news. {’’ نَبِّئْ ‘‘} is an imperative from the form II verb, meaning: convey this matter thoroughly, so that they may have both hope and fear, because faith is between these two. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ مِنَ الْعُقُوْبَةِ، مَا طَمِعَ بِجَنَّتِهِ أَحَدٌ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْكَافِرُ مَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ، مَا قَنِطَ مِنْ جَنَّتِهِ أَحَدٌ ] [ مسلم، التوبۃ، باب في سعۃ رحمۃ اللہ تعالٰی… : ۲۷۵۵ ] "If a believer knew how much punishment is with Allah, no one would hope for His Paradise, and if a disbeliever knew how much mercy is with Allah, no one would despair of His Paradise." In these verses, the mention of mercy and forgiveness comes first, and the mention of painful punishment comes after, because the essential and predominant attribute of Allah is mercy; punishment only manifests as a result of justice. For details, see the commentary of Surah Al-A'raf, verse (156).
Here, to express mercy, first {’’ عِبَادِيْۤ ‘‘} is addressed, then {’’أَنَّ‘‘، ’’ اَنَا ‘‘} is brought as a separating pronoun, and {’’ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ ‘‘} is brought with "al" (the definite article) for emphasis upon emphasis. In the second verse, {’’ هُوَ ‘‘} is a separating pronoun and {’’ الْعَذَابُ ‘‘} is made definite with "al" for emphasis. In the first verse, it is said that these are My attributes of mercy, and no one but Me possesses them. In the second verse, it is said: and this is the attribute of My punishment; it is not said: {’’ وَإِنِّيْ أَنَا الْمُعَذِّبُ… ‘‘} that I am the only one who gives such punishment, rather, the attribute of His punishment is described: My punishment itself is that which is a painful punishment.
➋ These verses are a prelude to the events that are coming ahead, in which the manifestation of Allah's mercy occurred through a group of angels, and through them also the manifestation of His painful punishment occurred.
Here, to express mercy, first {’’ عِبَادِيْۤ ‘‘} is addressed, then {’’أَنَّ‘‘، ’’ اَنَا ‘‘} is brought as a separating pronoun, and {’’ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ ‘‘} is brought with "al" (the definite article) for emphasis upon emphasis. In the second verse, {’’ هُوَ ‘‘} is a separating pronoun and {’’ الْعَذَابُ ‘‘} is made definite with "al" for emphasis. In the first verse, it is said that these are My attributes of mercy, and no one but Me possesses them. In the second verse, it is said: and this is the attribute of My punishment; it is not said: {’’ وَإِنِّيْ أَنَا الْمُعَذِّبُ… ‘‘} that I am the only one who gives such punishment, rather, the attribute of His punishment is described: My punishment itself is that which is a painful punishment.
➋ These verses are a prelude to the events that are coming ahead, in which the manifestation of Allah's mercy occurred through a group of angels, and through them also the manifestation of His painful punishment occurred.
