سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 168
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿168﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O
ٱلنَّاسُ
l-nāsu
mankind
كُلُوا۟
kulū
Eat
مِمَّا
mimmā
of what
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
حَلَـٰلًۭا
ḥalālan
lawful
طَيِّبًۭا
ṭayyiban
(and) good
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَتَّبِعُوا۟
tattabiʿū
follow
خُطُوَٰتِ
khuṭuwāti
(the) footsteps (of)
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ
l-shayṭāni
the Shaitaan
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, he
لَكُمْ
lakum
(is) to you
عَدُوٌّۭ
ʿaduwwun
an enemy
مُّبِينٌ
mubīnun
clear
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.
In Surah Al-Baqarah, with {”يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ“}, the address is made for the second time. In the previous verses, the evil consequences of associating others as “partners” (Andad) with Allah Almighty were mentioned. The polytheists would go to such extremes in honoring and venerating these “Andad” that they would even call upon them in worship and supplication, and would declare many animals, such as Bahirah, Saibah, Wasilah, etc., forbidden in their names. They would neither ride them nor eat their meat, and considered them a means of drawing closer to Allah (see Al-An’am: 138, 139). On the other hand, they declared things lawful which Allah had forbidden, such as carrion, blood, swine, and offerings made for other than Allah. Thus, in this verse, such self-imposed prohibitions are forbidden, and the command is given to eat from the lawful and pure things created by Allah Almighty, meaning: avoid what Allah has forbidden and do not declare the pure and lawful things He has permitted as forbidden. For Islam will only be valid when a person does not declare the lawful things of the Muslims as forbidden, as Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever prays the prayer that we pray, faces the Qiblah that we face, and eats our slaughtered animals, he is a Muslim.” [ بخاری، الصلٰوۃ، باب فضل استقبال القبلۃ : ۳۹۱ ] Thus, it is also stated here that by following Satan, do not declare them forbidden. Every disobedience to the commands of Allah and His Messenger, and every matter introduced into the religion which Allah and His Messenger have not taught, that is, every innovation, is following in the footsteps of Satan.
