سُوْرَةُ الْحِجْرِ
Surah Al-Hijr (15) — Ayah 65
فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱتَّبِعْ أَدْبَـٰرَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَٱمْضُوا۟ حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿65﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"Then travel in a part of the night with your family, and you go behind them in the rear, and let no one amongst you look back, but go on to where you are ordered."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَأَسْرِ
fa-asri
So travel
بِأَهْلِكَ
bi-ahlika
with your family
بِقِطْعٍۢ
biqiṭ'ʿin
in a portion
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلَّيْلِ
al-layli
the night
وَٱتَّبِعْ
wa-ittabiʿ
and follow
أَدْبَـٰرَهُمْ
adbārahum
their backs
وَلَا
walā
and not
يَلْتَفِتْ
yaltafit
let look back
مِنكُمْ
minkum
among you
أَحَدٌۭ
aḥadun
anyone
وَٱمْضُوا۟
wa-im'ḍū
and go on
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
where
تُؤْمَرُونَ
tu'marūna
you are ordered
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.
(Ayah65) ➊ { وَ اتَّبِعْ اَدْبَارَهُمْ:} Lut (peace be upon him) was commanded to walk behind them so that he could properly protect them, ensuring that no one would be left behind, everyone would keep moving continuously, and there would be no need to wait for those who stopped. This was also the practice of our Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), as Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) states that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would stay at the back during a journey, urge the weak forward, seat them behind him on his mount, and pray for them. [ أبوداوٗد، الجہاد، باب لزوم الساقۃ : ۲۶۳۹ ]
➋ { وَ لَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنْكُمْ اَحَدٌ :} Because by looking back, the swiftness required to flee from the place of Allah’s punishment would not remain, and instead of looking back at your homeland with longing again and again while leaving it, just keep moving forward, so that neither your heart is distracted elsewhere nor is there any decrease in the remembrance and gratitude of Allah or in your pace, nor does any tenderness arise in your heart upon witnessing the utter destruction of your people.
➌ {وَ امْضُوْا حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُوْنَ:} Allah Almighty did not mention that place, nor did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is surprising that some commentators, without this, say {’’قِيْلَ‘‘} (it is said) and sometimes mention Syria, sometimes Jordan, and sometimes Egypt; this is like shooting arrows in the dark.
➋ { وَ لَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنْكُمْ اَحَدٌ :} Because by looking back, the swiftness required to flee from the place of Allah’s punishment would not remain, and instead of looking back at your homeland with longing again and again while leaving it, just keep moving forward, so that neither your heart is distracted elsewhere nor is there any decrease in the remembrance and gratitude of Allah or in your pace, nor does any tenderness arise in your heart upon witnessing the utter destruction of your people.
➌ {وَ امْضُوْا حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُوْنَ:} Allah Almighty did not mention that place, nor did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is surprising that some commentators, without this, say {’’قِيْلَ‘‘} (it is said) and sometimes mention Syria, sometimes Jordan, and sometimes Egypt; this is like shooting arrows in the dark.
