سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 104
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقُولُوا۟ رَٰعِنَا وَقُولُوا۟ ٱنظُرْنَا وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿104﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Say not (to the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم) Râ‘ina but say Unzurna (make us understand) and hear. And for the disbelievers there is a painful torment. (See Verse 4:46)
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe[d]
لَا
lā
(Do) not
تَقُولُوا۟
taqūlū
say
رَٰعِنَا
rāʿinā
Raina
وَقُولُوا۟
waqūlū
and say
ٱنظُرْنَا
unẓur'nā
Unzurna
وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ
wa-is'maʿū
and listen
وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
walil'kāfirīna
And for the disbelievers
عَذَابٌ
ʿadhābun
(is) a punishment
أَلِيمٌۭ
alīmun
painful
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 104) {رَاعِنَا:} { ”رَاعِ“ } This is a verb in the imperative form from the "mufa‘alah" (mutual consideration) pattern, meaning "show consideration to us." The Muslims used this word to address the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to get his attention. The Jews also addressed him with this word, but they would twist their tongues and change the word, as mentioned in Surah An-Nisa (4:46), turning it into an insult. The commentators have described two ways they did this: one is that instead of {’’ رَاعِنَا ‘‘}, they would say { ”رَاعِيْنَا“ }, which means "our shepherd." The second is that they would consider it as an active participle from "ra‘unah" and say { ”رَاعِنًا“ }, which means "fool," and because the addressee is indefinite, it is accusative, and then they would rejoice among themselves. Allah Almighty forbade the Muslims from using this word for him at all and commanded them to say { ”انْظُرْنَا“ }, and also said to listen attentively so that there would be no need to get the attention of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). This clearly shows the enmity of the Jews, the baseness of their nature, and their mischief. Muslims were forbidden not only from their actions but also from resembling their words and statements, as narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ ] "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." [ أبوداوٗد، اللباس، باب فی لبس الشھرۃ : ۴۰۳۱ و حسنہ الألبانی ]
From this verse, it is also understood that it is not permissible to use such words in which there is even a suspicion of disrespect or insolence. Another example of the Jews' meanness is mentioned in the hadith, that instead of "as-salamu ‘alaykum," they would say {’’اَلسَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ ‘‘}, which means "death be upon you." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed to reply to them with only {’’عَلَيْكَ ‘‘}, meaning "upon you." [ مسلم، السلام، باب النہی عن ابتداء … : ۲۱۶۴ ]
From this verse, it is also understood that it is not permissible to use such words in which there is even a suspicion of disrespect or insolence. Another example of the Jews' meanness is mentioned in the hadith, that instead of "as-salamu ‘alaykum," they would say {’’اَلسَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ ‘‘}, which means "death be upon you." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed to reply to them with only {’’عَلَيْكَ ‘‘}, meaning "upon you." [ مسلم، السلام، باب النہی عن ابتداء … : ۲۱۶۴ ]
