سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 6
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ﴿6﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Perhaps, you, would kill yourself (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) in grief, over their footsteps (for their turning away from you), because they believe not in this narration (the Qur’ân).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَعَلَّكَ
falaʿallaka
Then perhaps you would (be)
بَـٰخِعٌۭ
bākhiʿun
the one who kills
نَّفْسَكَ
nafsaka
yourself
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
over
ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ
āthārihim
their footsteps
إِن
in
if
لَّمْ
lam
not
يُؤْمِنُوا۟
yu'minū
they believe
بِهَـٰذَا
bihādhā
in this
ٱلْحَدِيثِ
l-ḥadīthi
[the] narration
أَسَفًا
asafan
(in) grief
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 6){فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ … : ’’ بَاخِعٌ ‘‘ ’’بَخَعَ يَبْخَعُ نَفْسَهُ‘‘} He killed himself with grief. {’’لَعَلَّ‘‘} The word, when used for something beloved, means hope, i.e., hoping; and when used for something feared, it means apprehension, i.e., being afraid. Here, the latter is meant. The purpose of this verse is to console you, O Prophet (peace be upon him), as to why you are wasting away in sorrow over these people not believing. From this verse, it can be gauged how much pain the Prophet (peace be upon him) felt over his people not believing, to the extent that Allah Almighty used the words {’’ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ ‘‘} (one who destroys himself) for it. See also Surah Ash-Shu'ara (3). Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [إِنَّمَا مَثَلِيْ وَمَثَلُ النَّاسِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَائَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ جَعَلَ الْفَرَاشُ وَهٰذِهِ الدَّوَابُّ الَّتِيْ تَقَعُ فِي النَّارِ يَقَعْنَ فِيْهَا، فَجَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ يَنْزِعُهُنَّ وَيَغْلِبْنَهُ، فَيَقْتَحِمْنَ فِيْهَا، فَأَنَا آخُذُ بِحُجَزِكُمْ عَنِ النَّارِ وَاَنْتُمْ تَقْتَحِمُوْنَ فِيْهَا ] [بخاری، الرقاق، باب الانتھاء عن المعاصي : ۶۴۸۳۔ مسلم : 2284/16 ] "My example and the example of the people is like that of a man who kindled a fire, and when it lit up the surroundings, moths and such creatures began to fall into it. They would fall into it, and the man would try to prevent them, but they would overpower him and rush into the fire. So I am holding your waists to save you from the fire, but you are rushing into it by force." See also Surah Fatir (8), An-Naml (70), and An-Nahl (27). {’’ عَلٰۤى اٰثَارِهِمْ ‘‘} Upon their footsteps, meaning after them. {’’ اَسَفًا ‘‘} Great worry and grief, this is the object, meaning because of grief.
