سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 80
وَقَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَةً ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَهْدًا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ ٱللَّهُ عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿80﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And they (Jews) say, "The Fire (i.e. Hell-fire on the Day of Resurrection) shall not touch us but for a few numbered days." Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to them): "Have you taken a covenant from Allâh, so that Allâh will not break His Covenant? Or is it that you say of Allâh what you know not?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
And they say
لَن
lan
Never
تَمَسَّنَا
tamassanā
will touch us
ٱلنَّارُ
l-nāru
the Fire
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَيَّامًۭا
ayyāman
(for) days
مَّعْدُودَةًۭ ۚ
maʿdūdatan
numbered
قُلْ
qul
Say
أَتَّخَذْتُمْ
attakhadhtum
Have you taken
عِندَ
ʿinda
from
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
عَهْدًۭا
ʿahdan
a covenant
فَلَن
falan
so never
يُخْلِفَ
yukh'lifa
will break
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ
ʿahdahu
His Covenant
أَمْ
am
Or
تَقُولُونَ
taqūlūna
(do) you say
عَلَى
ʿalā
against
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَا
mā
what
لَا
lā
not
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
you know
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 80) In this verse, the comprehensive misguidance of the Jews is mentioned, in which both the common people and the scholars were involved, meaning: "We are Allah's beloved and dear ones; no matter how many sins we commit, we will not be put into Hell, and even if we are put there, we will be taken out after a few days." Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that once the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked the Jews of Khaybar several questions, one of which was: [ مَنْ أَهْلُ النَّارِ؟ ] "Who are the people who will enter the Fire?" They said: "We will remain in it for a short while, then you will take our place in it." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اِخْسَئُوْا فِيْهَا، لاَ نَخْلُفُكُمْ فِيْهَا أَبَدًا ] "Be driven away into it; we will never take your place in it." [ بخاری، الجزیۃ والموادعۃ، باب إذا غدر المشرکون … : ۳۱۶۹ ]
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, the Jews used to say that the duration of the world is only seven thousand years, and for every thousand years of the world, people will have only one day of punishment in the Hereafter, so it is only seven days, then the punishment will end. Upon this, Allah revealed this verse: «{ وَ قَالُوْا لَنْ تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ اِلَّاۤ اَيَّامًا مَّعْدُوْدَةً }» [ ابن أبی حاتم بسند حسن : ۱؍۲۱۰ ] Some of them used to say that we will remain in Hell only for as many days as we worshipped the calf. [ مصنف عبد الرزاق عن قتادۃ ]
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, the Jews used to say that the duration of the world is only seven thousand years, and for every thousand years of the world, people will have only one day of punishment in the Hereafter, so it is only seven days, then the punishment will end. Upon this, Allah revealed this verse: «{ وَ قَالُوْا لَنْ تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ اِلَّاۤ اَيَّامًا مَّعْدُوْدَةً }» [ ابن أبی حاتم بسند حسن : ۱؍۲۱۰ ] Some of them used to say that we will remain in Hell only for as many days as we worshipped the calf. [ مصنف عبد الرزاق عن قتادۃ ]
