سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 47
أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ عَلَىٰ تَخَوُّفٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿47﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Or that He may catch them with gradual wasting (of their wealth and health). Truly! Your Lord is indeed full of Kindness, Most Merciful?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوْ
aw
Or
يَأْخُذَهُمْ
yakhudhahum
that He may seize them
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
with
تَخَوُّفٍۢ
takhawwufin
a gradual wasting
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
But indeed
رَبَّكُمْ
rabbakum
your Lord
لَرَءُوفٌۭ
laraūfun
(is) surely Full of Kindness
رَّحِيمٌ
raḥīmun
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.
(Ayah47) ➊ One meaning of { اَوْ يَاْخُذَهُمْ عَلٰى تَخَوُّفٍ: ’’ تَخَوُّفٍ ‘‘} is to be fearful, and another meaning is {’’تَنَقُّص‘‘}, that is, to gradually decrease. That is, one form of punishment is that they can already see that the punishment is coming, due to which they remain fearful at all times, and as a result, their lives, wealth, and produce keep decreasing day by day, until before their eyes they fall into the grip of Allah Almighty’s punishment. This too is a very painful form of punishment, because due to fear, a person neither lives nor dies, but keeps wasting away. In this explanation, both meanings of {’’ تَخَوُّفٍ ‘‘} and {’’تَنَقُّص‘‘} (to be fearful and to gradually decrease) are included.
➋ {فَاِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ :} means that although Allah Almighty has countless forms of punishment, He gives you respite and forgives, so that you may give up disobedience and turn back. This is His immense compassion and utmost kindness that you keep committing sins, yet He provides you sustenance and grants you health, and you are not seized immediately by Him. Otherwise, if He were to seize you for your disobedience, not a single creature would remain on the earth. See the last verse of Surah Fatir.
➋ {فَاِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ :} means that although Allah Almighty has countless forms of punishment, He gives you respite and forgives, so that you may give up disobedience and turn back. This is His immense compassion and utmost kindness that you keep committing sins, yet He provides you sustenance and grants you health, and you are not seized immediately by Him. Otherwise, if He were to seize you for your disobedience, not a single creature would remain on the earth. See the last verse of Surah Fatir.
