سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 54
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ ۖ إِن يَشَأْ يَرْحَمْكُمْ أَوْ إِن يَشَأْ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ ۚ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا ﴿54﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Your Lord knows you best; if He wills, He will have mercy on you, or if He wills, He will punish you. And We have not sent you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) as a guardian over them.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
رَّبُّكُمْ
rabbukum
Your Lord
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
(is) most knowing
بِكُمْ ۖ
bikum
of you
إِن
in
If
يَشَأْ
yasha
He wills
يَرْحَمْكُمْ
yarḥamkum
He will have mercy on you
أَوْ
aw
or
إِن
in
if
يَشَأْ
yasha
He wills
يُعَذِّبْكُمْ ۚ
yuʿadhib'kum
He will punish you
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ
arsalnāka
We have sent you
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
over them
وَكِيلًۭا
wakīlan
(as) a guardian
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.
(Ayah 54) ➊ {رَبُّكُمْ اَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ… :} means that Allah’s knowledge about you is far greater than your own knowledge about yourselves. Now, if He wills, despite your inappropriate words and deeds, He may show mercy to you out of His grace, or if He wills, He may punish you for your sins based on His justice. He is the Owner of everything; He does whatever He wills with His ownership. There is neither any injustice in it nor does anyone have the courage to question Him about it. See Surah Al-Anbiya (23).
➋ { وَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيْلًا: ’’ وَكِيْلًا ‘‘} means {’’اَلْمَوْكُوْلُ إِلَيْهِ‘‘}, that is, the one to whom something is entrusted, made responsible. In this, there is comfort for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that if these people do not believe, you will not be questioned, nor are you responsible for them. Your duty is to convey the message.
➋ { وَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيْلًا: ’’ وَكِيْلًا ‘‘} means {’’اَلْمَوْكُوْلُ إِلَيْهِ‘‘}, that is, the one to whom something is entrusted, made responsible. In this, there is comfort for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that if these people do not believe, you will not be questioned, nor are you responsible for them. Your duty is to convey the message.
