سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 95
وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿95﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And purchase not a small gain at the cost of Allâh’s Covenant. Verily! What is with Allâh is better for you if you did but know.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَشْتَرُوا۟
tashtarū
exchange
بِعَهْدِ
biʿahdi
the covenant
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
ثَمَنًۭا
thamanan
(for) a price
قَلِيلًا ۚ
qalīlan
little
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Indeed, what
عِندَ
ʿinda
(is) with
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
هُوَ
huwa
it
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
لَّكُمْ
lakum
for you
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you were (to)
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
know
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.
(Ayah95) ➊ {وَ لَا تَشْتَرُوْا بِعَهْدِ اللّٰهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا :} In the above verses, emphasis was placed on adhering to mutual agreements; now it is stated that after believing, do not break the covenant made with Allah, meaning do not violate the Shariah out of greed for wealth (which includes breaking mutual agreements). Any wealth obtained against the Shariah becomes a cause of woe. (Muwaddih) By "a small price" it is not meant that you should take a higher price, rather it refers to worldly wealth, which is little, even if it is the whole world, as He said: «{ قُلْ مَتَاعُ الدُّنْيَا قَلِيْلٌ }» [ النساء : ۷۷ ] "Say, the enjoyment of this world is very little."
➋ { اِنَّمَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ :} This {’’ اِنَّمَا ‘‘} is not a word of exclusivity but {’’اِنَّ مَا‘‘}, which according to the Uthmani script of the Mushaf is written together. By emphasizing the implied pronoun in the relative clause {’’مَا‘‘} with { ’’ هُوَ ‘‘ }, exclusivity is created in the speech, meaning that only the wealth obtained according to the Shariah is better for you, nothing else, as Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) said: «{ بَقِيَّتُ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِيْنَ }» [ ھود : ۸۶ ] "What is left by Allah is better for you, if you are believers." "What is with Allah" also includes Paradise, because it is everlasting, while the world is perishable.
➋ { اِنَّمَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ :} This {’’ اِنَّمَا ‘‘} is not a word of exclusivity but {’’اِنَّ مَا‘‘}, which according to the Uthmani script of the Mushaf is written together. By emphasizing the implied pronoun in the relative clause {’’مَا‘‘} with { ’’ هُوَ ‘‘ }, exclusivity is created in the speech, meaning that only the wealth obtained according to the Shariah is better for you, nothing else, as Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) said: «{ بَقِيَّتُ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِيْنَ }» [ ھود : ۸۶ ] "What is left by Allah is better for you, if you are believers." "What is with Allah" also includes Paradise, because it is everlasting, while the world is perishable.
