سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 62
قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كَرَّمْتَ عَلَىَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿62﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[Iblîs (Satan)] said: "See this one whom You have honoured above me, if You give me respite (keep me alive) to the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize and mislead his offspring (by sending them astray) all but a few!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
أَرَءَيْتَكَ
ara-aytaka
Do You see
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
this
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
whom
كَرَّمْتَ
karramta
You have honored
عَلَىَّ
ʿalayya
above me
لَئِنْ
la-in
If
أَخَّرْتَنِ
akhartani
You give me respite
إِلَىٰ
ilā
till
يَوْمِ
yawmi
(the) Day
ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ
l-qiyāmati
(of) the Resurrection
لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ
la-aḥtanikanna
I will surely destroy
ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ
dhurriyyatahu
his offspring
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a few
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 62) ➊ {قَالَ اَرَءَيْتَكَ هٰذَا الَّذِيْ كَرَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ …: ’’ اَرَءَيْتَكَ ‘‘} The original word is {’’أَرَأَيْتَ‘‘}, and the letter "کاف" is a particle of address, which changes according to the addressee. For example, if the addressee is a singular masculine, then {’’أَرَأَيْتَكَ‘‘}; if dual masculine, then {’’أَرَأَيْتَكُمَا‘‘}; and if plural masculine, then {’’أَرَأَيْتَكُمْ‘‘}. The meaning of all is "Did you see," but what is meant is {’’ أَخْبِرْنِيْ‘‘}, i.e., "Tell me." {’’ اَرَءَيْتَكَ ‘‘} is originally derived from {’’حَنَكٌ‘‘}, which means "jaw." The Arabs say {’’حَنَكْتُ الْفَرَسَ أَحْنُكُهُ‘‘} (in the pattern of ضرب and نصر) {’’وَاحْتَنَكْتُهُ‘‘} "I tied a rope to the (lower) jaw of the horse and led it behind me." The meaning is that I will lead his offspring behind me with a rope tied to their jaws like a bridle. But this word is also used in other senses, such as: {’’ لَأَسْتَوْلِيَنَّ ‘‘} "I will surely overpower them," and {’’لَأَسْتَأْصِلَنَّ‘‘}, which is derived from {’’اِسْتَأْصَلَتِ السَّنَةُ أَمْوَالَهُمْ‘‘}, meaning the famine uprooted and destroyed their wealth from the root.
➋ That is, with extreme audacity and arrogance, he said to Allah, "Tell me about this person whom You have honored above me," meaning, "When I am better, why did You honor him above me?!" In this, there is also an expression of jealousy towards Adam (peace be upon him), a rejection of the command by using his own spurious rational analogy in opposition to Allah's command, and an expression of arrogance and rebellion, and none of these things are acceptable to Allah.
➌ { لَىِٕنْ اَخَّرْتَنِ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ … :} Its details can be seen in Surah Al-A'raf, verses (14 to 17). {’’ اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا ‘‘} refers to Allah's sincere servants.
➋ That is, with extreme audacity and arrogance, he said to Allah, "Tell me about this person whom You have honored above me," meaning, "When I am better, why did You honor him above me?!" In this, there is also an expression of jealousy towards Adam (peace be upon him), a rejection of the command by using his own spurious rational analogy in opposition to Allah's command, and an expression of arrogance and rebellion, and none of these things are acceptable to Allah.
➌ { لَىِٕنْ اَخَّرْتَنِ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ … :} Its details can be seen in Surah Al-A'raf, verses (14 to 17). {’’ اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا ‘‘} refers to Allah's sincere servants.
