سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 124
إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ ٱلسَّبْتُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴿124﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The Sabbath was only prescribed for those who differed concerning it, and verily, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they used to differ.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Only
جُعِلَ
juʿila
was appointed
ٱلسَّبْتُ
l-sabtu
the Sabbath
عَلَى
ʿalā
for
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟
ikh'talafū
differed
فِيهِ ۚ
fīhi
in it
وَإِنَّ
wa-inna
And indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
لَيَحْكُمُ
layaḥkumu
will surely judge
بَيْنَهُمْ
baynahum
between them
يَوْمَ
yawma
(on) the Day
ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ
l-qiyāmati
(of) the Resurrection
فِيمَا
fīmā
in what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used (to)
فِيهِ
fīhi
[in it]
يَخْتَلِفُونَ
yakhtalifūna
differ
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.
(Ayah124){اِنَّمَا جُعِلَ السَّبْتُ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ … :} That is, the reverence for the day of Saturday is not found in the Islamic community, nor was it in the Shariah of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). This day was later prescribed only for those people who differed regarding it. The meaning of "differed" is that Musa (peace be upon him) made the reverence of Friday obligatory upon them, but they differed in it and fixed Saturday as the day. Upon this, Allah made the reverence of that very day obligatory upon them, that they should not hunt on it. This is supported by the narration of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ نَحْنُ الْآخِرُوْنَ السَّابِقُوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، بَيْدَ أَنَّهُمْ أُوْتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا، ثُمَّ هٰذَا يَوْمُهُمُ الَّذِيْ فُرِضَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاخْتَلَفُوْا فِيْهِ فَهَدَانَا اللّٰهُ فَالنَّاسُ لَنَا فِيْهِ تَبَعٌ، الْيَهُوْدُ غَدًا وَالنَّصَارَی بَعْدَ غَدٍ ] [ بخاری، الجمعۃ، باب فرض الجمعۃ : ۸۷۶ ] "We are the last to come, but will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, even though they were given the Book before us. Then this was their day which was made obligatory upon them, but they differed in it, so Allah guided us to it (the day of Friday), so people are behind us in this regard: the Jews the day after us, and the Christians the day after that." In the hadith of Sahih Muslim, the determination of this obligatory day is mentioned, that it was Friday, from which the Jews differed and fixed Saturday, and the Christians fixed Sunday. [ دیکھیے مسلم، الجمعۃ، باب ہدایۃ ھذہ الأمۃ لیوم الجمعۃ : ۸۵۵ ]
