سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 61
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ ﴿61﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if Allâh were to seize mankind for their wrong-doing, He would not leave on it (the earth) a single moving (living) creature, but He postpones them for an appointed term and when their term comes, neither can they delay nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
يُؤَاخِذُ
yuākhidhu
Allah were to seize
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah were to seize
ٱلنَّاسَ
l-nāsa
the mankind
بِظُلْمِهِم
biẓul'mihim
for their wrongdoing
مَّا
mā
not
تَرَكَ
taraka
He (would) have left
عَلَيْهَا
ʿalayhā
upon it
مِن
min
any
دَآبَّةٍۢ
dābbatin
moving creature
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
but
يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ
yu-akhiruhum
He defers them
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
for
أَجَلٍۢ
ajalin
a term
مُّسَمًّۭى ۖ
musamman
appointed
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
Then when
جَآءَ
jāa
comes
أَجَلُهُمْ
ajaluhum
their terms
لَا
lā
not
يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ
yastakhirūna
they (will) remain behind
سَاعَةًۭ ۖ
sāʿatan
an hour
وَلَا
walā
and not
يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
yastaqdimūna
they can advance (it)
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.
(Ayah61) ➊ {وَ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ …: ’’ يُؤَاخِذُ ‘‘} here is in the meaning of {’’ يَأْخُذُ ‘‘}, and the form "Mufa‘alah" is used because it also clarifies the sense of questioning and accountability. Zulm (wrongdoing) means to put something in a place other than its rightful place; the greatest zulm is shirk (associating partners with Allah), then transgressing any of Allah’s limits, and not showing gratitude for Allah’s blessings are various forms of zulm. The same point is mentioned in the last verse of Surah Fatir.
➋ By {’’ النَّاسَ ‘‘} is meant either the disbelievers and polytheists, or all humans in general, no matter how pious they are, because no one has ever been able to fully thank Allah for His blessings or completely fulfill His commands, nor can anyone do so, as He said: «{ كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَاۤ اَمَرَهٗ }» [ عبس : ۲۳] “No! He has not yet accomplished what Allah commanded him.” It is Allah’s grace that in this world both the righteous and the wicked are given respite for a time. But if ever Allah’s punishment comes in this world, then all—righteous and wicked, even animals and birds—are caught in it, except for those whom Allah has mercy on. Then on the Day of Resurrection, everyone will be dealt with according to their faith, intention, and deeds. For a hadith with this meaning, see in Sahih Bukhari in {’’ كِتَابُ الْبُيُوْعِ، بَابُ مَا ذُكِرَ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ (۲۱۱۸) ‘‘} the mention of the army that will come to attack the Ka‘bah.
➋ By {’’ النَّاسَ ‘‘} is meant either the disbelievers and polytheists, or all humans in general, no matter how pious they are, because no one has ever been able to fully thank Allah for His blessings or completely fulfill His commands, nor can anyone do so, as He said: «{ كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَاۤ اَمَرَهٗ }» [ عبس : ۲۳] “No! He has not yet accomplished what Allah commanded him.” It is Allah’s grace that in this world both the righteous and the wicked are given respite for a time. But if ever Allah’s punishment comes in this world, then all—righteous and wicked, even animals and birds—are caught in it, except for those whom Allah has mercy on. Then on the Day of Resurrection, everyone will be dealt with according to their faith, intention, and deeds. For a hadith with this meaning, see in Sahih Bukhari in {’’ كِتَابُ الْبُيُوْعِ، بَابُ مَا ذُكِرَ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ (۲۱۱۸) ‘‘} the mention of the army that will come to attack the Ka‘bah.
