سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 17
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allâh took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَثَلُهُمْ
mathaluhum
Their example
كَمَثَلِ
kamathali
(is) like (the) example
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(of) the one who
ٱسْتَوْقَدَ
is'tawqada
kindled
نَارًۭا
nāran
a fire
فَلَمَّآ
falammā
then, when
أَضَآءَتْ
aḍāat
it illuminated
مَا
mā
what
حَوْلَهُۥ
ḥawlahu
(was) around him
ذَهَبَ
dhahaba
took away
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِنُورِهِمْ
binūrihim
their light
وَتَرَكَهُمْ
watarakahum
and left them
فِى
fī
in
ظُلُمَـٰتٍۢ
ẓulumātin
darkness[es]
لَّا
lā
(so) not
يُبْصِرُونَ
yub'ṣirūna
(do) they see
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 17) ➊ The meaning of {اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا:} { ”اَوْ قَدَ نَارًا“ } is "he kindled a fire." In {”اسْتَوْقَدَ“}, with the addition of "seen" and "taa," the meaning is intensified, therefore it is translated as "kindled a blazing fire."
➋ How are the hypocrites likened to the person who kindled a blazing fire, then his fire was extinguished and Allah took away their light? The answer is that there are two reasons: The first is that these people first believed, so with the light of faith everything became clear for them, then they fell into hypocrisy, so that light was extinguished and they wandered in many darknesses of disbelief, hypocrisy, doubts, and suspicions. This meaning is supported by this verse: «{ ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ اٰمَنُوْا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوْا فَطُبِعَ عَلٰى قُلُوْبِهِمْ }» [ المنافقون : ۳ ] "This is because they believed, then they disbelieved, so their hearts were sealed."
The second reason for the analogy is that due to believing, they attained the honor of Muslims in this world, maintained relationships with Muslims, became heirs to one another, received spoils of war and countless other benefits, but when they died, Allah took away that honor from them, just as the light was taken away from the one with the fire, and left them in many darknesses (i.e., the grave, the Day of Resurrection, and the torment of Hell). (Tabari from Ibn Abbas with a Hasan chain)
➋ How are the hypocrites likened to the person who kindled a blazing fire, then his fire was extinguished and Allah took away their light? The answer is that there are two reasons: The first is that these people first believed, so with the light of faith everything became clear for them, then they fell into hypocrisy, so that light was extinguished and they wandered in many darknesses of disbelief, hypocrisy, doubts, and suspicions. This meaning is supported by this verse: «{ ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّهُمْ اٰمَنُوْا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوْا فَطُبِعَ عَلٰى قُلُوْبِهِمْ }» [ المنافقون : ۳ ] "This is because they believed, then they disbelieved, so their hearts were sealed."
The second reason for the analogy is that due to believing, they attained the honor of Muslims in this world, maintained relationships with Muslims, became heirs to one another, received spoils of war and countless other benefits, but when they died, Allah took away that honor from them, just as the light was taken away from the one with the fire, and left them in many darknesses (i.e., the grave, the Day of Resurrection, and the torment of Hell). (Tabari from Ibn Abbas with a Hasan chain)
