سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 63
تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿63﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
By Allâh, We indeed sent (Messengers) to the nations before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم), but Shaitân (Satan) made their deeds fair-seeming to them. So he (Satan) is their Wali (helper) today (i.e. in this world), and theirs will be a painful torment.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
تَٱللَّهِ
tal-lahi
By Allah
لَقَدْ
laqad
certainly
أَرْسَلْنَآ
arsalnā
We have sent
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
to
أُمَمٍۢ
umamin
nations
مِّن
min
before you
قَبْلِكَ
qablika
before you
فَزَيَّنَ
fazayyana
but made fair-seeming
لَهُمُ
lahumu
to them
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ
l-shayṭānu
the Shaitaan
أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
aʿmālahum
their deeds
فَهُوَ
fahuwa
So he
وَلِيُّهُمُ
waliyyuhumu
(is) their ally
ٱلْيَوْمَ
l-yawma
today
وَلَهُمْ
walahum
and for them
عَذَابٌ
ʿadhābun
(is) a punishment
أَلِيمٌۭ
alīmun
painful
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.
(Ayah63) ➊ { تَاللّٰهِ لَقَدْ اَرْسَلْنَاۤ …: } Allah Almighty has sworn by His own pure Self and, to express His greatness, has used the plural form "We," otherwise Allah Almighty is One.
➋ { فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ اَعْمَالَهُمْ :} So Satan, who was the eternal enemy, made those same evil deeds that they used to do—such as disbelief, polytheism, and other wickedness—appear so attractive and beautiful to them that they thought they were doing very good deeds. Thus, deceived by this, they refused to accept the words of the messengers.
➌ { فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ الْيَوْمَ … :} So the one who was always their enemy has today become their friend, and it is obvious that wherever their friend goes, they too will go with him into the painful punishment. Another meaning is that the Satan who became the friend of the previous disbelieving nations is today also the friend of these Arab disbelievers, and their outcome will be the same as theirs. The purpose is to comfort you, O Prophet (peace be upon him), that you should not be saddened or distressed by the actions of these disbelievers; this has happened before as well.
➋ { فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ اَعْمَالَهُمْ :} So Satan, who was the eternal enemy, made those same evil deeds that they used to do—such as disbelief, polytheism, and other wickedness—appear so attractive and beautiful to them that they thought they were doing very good deeds. Thus, deceived by this, they refused to accept the words of the messengers.
➌ { فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ الْيَوْمَ … :} So the one who was always their enemy has today become their friend, and it is obvious that wherever their friend goes, they too will go with him into the painful punishment. Another meaning is that the Satan who became the friend of the previous disbelieving nations is today also the friend of these Arab disbelievers, and their outcome will be the same as theirs. The purpose is to comfort you, O Prophet (peace be upon him), that you should not be saddened or distressed by the actions of these disbelievers; this has happened before as well.
