سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 51
قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ ٱلْقُرُونِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿51﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[Fir‘aun (Pharaoh)] said: "What about the generations of old?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
فَمَا
famā
Then what
بَالُ
bālu
(is the) case
ٱلْقُرُونِ
l-qurūni
(of) the generations
ٱلْأُولَىٰ
l-ūlā
(of) the former
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 51){ قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ الْقُرُوْنِ الْاُوْلٰى:} There can be three reasons for asking this question, and the answer of Musa (peace be upon him) contains the solution to all of them. The first reason, in the words of Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him), is: "Perhaps Pharaoh had an atheistic mindset. He considered the birth of humans to be like the vegetation of the rainy season—no one created it in the beginning, it just came into existence by itself, and in the end, it did not remain, but withered and turned to dust. When he heard that there is a Lord over everyone, he then asked, 'Where did the previous creation go?' It was explained that their account is written and present, that every single person will be brought forth again." (Mowdih) The second reason for his asking what happened to the people of earlier times could be that he wanted to have it said that those who, for hundreds of years, generation after generation, considered others as their Lord and worshipped them, were all misguided and deserving of punishment. His purpose was that when Musa (peace be upon him) would declare them misguided and deserving of punishment, then the emotions of all the people would be inflamed against him, and they would become averse to his message. The people of falsehood have always used this tactic to incite the ignorant against the people of truth, and even today they consider it an effective weapon. In the light of the verses (23 to 29) of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, this meaning appears most clear. Musa (peace be upon him) entrusted this matter to the knowledge of Allah, thus Pharaoh's attack was rendered ineffective.
The third reason is that Pharaoh wanted to make it believed that messengers are supposed to be knowers of the unseen; if you are truly a messenger, then first tell us what happened to the people of earlier times, inform us of their condition. The purpose was that when he would not be able to tell, they would say, "What kind of messenger is this who does not even know the conditions of the people of earlier times?" The answer given was that knowing this is not the responsibility of the messengers, rather this is the work of the Lord, the Exalted.
The third reason is that Pharaoh wanted to make it believed that messengers are supposed to be knowers of the unseen; if you are truly a messenger, then first tell us what happened to the people of earlier times, inform us of their condition. The purpose was that when he would not be able to tell, they would say, "What kind of messenger is this who does not even know the conditions of the people of earlier times?" The answer given was that knowing this is not the responsibility of the messengers, rather this is the work of the Lord, the Exalted.
