سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 73
وَإِن كَادُوا۟ لَيَفْتِنُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ لِتَفْتَرِىَ عَلَيْنَا غَيْرَهُۥ ۖ وَإِذًا لَّٱتَّخَذُوكَ خَلِيلًا ﴿73﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, they were about to tempt you away from that which We have revealed (the Qur’ân) unto you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم), to fabricate something other than it against Us, and then they would certainly have taken you a Khalîl (an intimate friend)!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِن
wa-in
And indeed
كَادُوا۟
kādū
they were about (to)
لَيَفْتِنُونَكَ
layaftinūnaka
tempt you away
عَنِ
ʿani
from
ٱلَّذِىٓ
alladhī
that which
أَوْحَيْنَآ
awḥaynā
We revealed
إِلَيْكَ
ilayka
to you
لِتَفْتَرِىَ
litaftariya
that you invent
عَلَيْنَا
ʿalaynā
about Us
غَيْرَهُۥ ۖ
ghayrahu
other (than) it
وَإِذًۭا
wa-idhan
And then
لَّٱتَّخَذُوكَ
la-ittakhadhūka
surely they would take you
خَلِيلًۭا
khalīlan
(as) a friend
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 73) ➊ {وَ اِنْ كَادُوْا لَيَفْتِنُوْنَكَ۠ عَنِ الَّذِيْۤ اَوْحَيْنَاۤ …:’’ وَ اِنْ كَادُوْا ‘‘} was originally {’’وَاِنَّهُمْ كَادُوْا‘‘}, the proof is the "lam" that comes later. {’’فَتَنَ يَفْتِنُ‘‘} (ض) To test gold for genuineness or impurity by putting it in fire, a trial. {’’فَتَنَهُ عَنْ رَأْيِهِ ‘‘} To turn someone away from his opinion. The disbelievers of Makkah themselves never came to the right path; rather, they constantly tried to somehow stop you, O Prophet (peace be upon him), from presenting pure monotheism, or to make you leave or change a part of those commands which Allah Almighty was giving you, or to remove from the Quran that part in which polytheism and idol worship are condemned, and then they would be ready to believe. To turn you away from your purpose, sometimes through deceit, sometimes through temptation, and sometimes through threats, they made countless efforts, but Allah Almighty commanded you to clearly tell them that you cannot attribute to Allah anything which He has not revealed to you. For details of their demands and your response, see Surah Yunus (15 to 17).
➋ { وَ اِذًا لَّاتَّخَذُوْكَ خَلِيْلًا:} Because before the call to monotheism, they had heartfelt love for you, they used to call you truthful and trustworthy. Now, if you even come a little close to inclining towards them, they are ready to have that same heartfelt friendship with you again. "Khalil" is that friend whose friendship is within the heart, as He said: «وَ اتَّخَذَ اللّٰهُ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ خَلِيْلًا » [ النساء : ۱۲۵ ] "And Allah took Abraham as a special friend."
➋ { وَ اِذًا لَّاتَّخَذُوْكَ خَلِيْلًا:} Because before the call to monotheism, they had heartfelt love for you, they used to call you truthful and trustworthy. Now, if you even come a little close to inclining towards them, they are ready to have that same heartfelt friendship with you again. "Khalil" is that friend whose friendship is within the heart, as He said: «وَ اتَّخَذَ اللّٰهُ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ خَلِيْلًا » [ النساء : ۱۲۵ ] "And Allah took Abraham as a special friend."
