سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 68
أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ ٱلْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَكِيلًا ﴿68﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Do you then feel secure that He will not cause a side of the land to swallow you up, or that He will not send against you a violent sand-storm? Then, you shall find no Wakîl (guardian - one to guard you from the torment).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَفَأَمِنتُمْ
afa-amintum
Do you then feel secure
أَن
an
that (not)
يَخْسِفَ
yakhsifa
He will cause to swallow
بِكُمْ
bikum
you
جَانِبَ
jāniba
side
ٱلْبَرِّ
l-bari
(of) the land
أَوْ
aw
or
يُرْسِلَ
yur'sila
send
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
against you
حَاصِبًۭا
ḥāṣiban
a storm of stones
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
لَا
lā
not
تَجِدُوا۟
tajidū
you will find
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
وَكِيلًا
wakīlan
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.
The meaning of (Ayah 69,68){اَفَاَمِنْتُمْ اَنْ يَّخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ …: ’’خَسْفٌ ‘‘} is to cause to sink into the earth. {’’ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ ‘‘} means the edge of the land; this is stated because the edge of the land is water, and the edge of the water is land. {’’ حَاصِبًا ‘‘} means a wind that scatters pebbles, or a cloud from which hailstones fall. {’’ قَاصِفًا ‘‘ ’’ضَرَبَ‘‘} is an active participle, a wind that breaks trees, ships, and everything else. {’’تَبِيْعًا ‘‘} is one who demands repayment of a debt or revenge and does not relent.
In these verses, Allah Almighty has described the ignorance and lack of understanding of the disbelievers: when you reach the land, you become fearless of Allah’s punishment and His grasp, and again fall into disbelief and polytheism. Do you not fear that just as Allah can drown you in water, He can also cause you to sink into the dry land? If He commands, the earth can swallow you just like water, or He can send a violent wind that brings stones and destroys you, and then you will find no helper. Or do you not even fear that Allah may again present you with a sea journey, and as a punishment for your ingratitude, He may drown you through a stormy wind that destroys everything? Then you will find no one who can demand revenge from Allah or pursue Him. It is clear that after being saved from a trial, a person should never become heedless of Allah’s hidden plan and His grasp again, because this is utter loss, as He said: «اَفَاَمِنُوْا مَكْرَ اللّٰهِ فَلَا يَاْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللّٰهِ اِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخٰسِرُوْنَ» [ الأعراف : ۹۹ ] “Do they then feel secure from Allah’s hidden plan? None feel secure from Allah’s hidden plan except the people who are losers.” The meanings mentioned in these verses have been clarified by Allah Almighty at several places; see Saba (9), An’am (65), and Surah Mulk (16, 17). For the synonymous verse of {’’ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوْا لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهٖ تَبِيْعًا ‘‘}, see Surah Ash-Shams (14, 15).
In these verses, Allah Almighty has described the ignorance and lack of understanding of the disbelievers: when you reach the land, you become fearless of Allah’s punishment and His grasp, and again fall into disbelief and polytheism. Do you not fear that just as Allah can drown you in water, He can also cause you to sink into the dry land? If He commands, the earth can swallow you just like water, or He can send a violent wind that brings stones and destroys you, and then you will find no helper. Or do you not even fear that Allah may again present you with a sea journey, and as a punishment for your ingratitude, He may drown you through a stormy wind that destroys everything? Then you will find no one who can demand revenge from Allah or pursue Him. It is clear that after being saved from a trial, a person should never become heedless of Allah’s hidden plan and His grasp again, because this is utter loss, as He said: «اَفَاَمِنُوْا مَكْرَ اللّٰهِ فَلَا يَاْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللّٰهِ اِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخٰسِرُوْنَ» [ الأعراف : ۹۹ ] “Do they then feel secure from Allah’s hidden plan? None feel secure from Allah’s hidden plan except the people who are losers.” The meanings mentioned in these verses have been clarified by Allah Almighty at several places; see Saba (9), An’am (65), and Surah Mulk (16, 17). For the synonymous verse of {’’ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوْا لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهٖ تَبِيْعًا ‘‘}, see Surah Ash-Shams (14, 15).
