سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 109
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقُلْ ءَاذَنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَآءٍ ۖ وَإِنْ أَدْرِىٓ أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ ﴿109﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But if they (disbelievers, idolaters, Jews, Christians, polytheists) turn away (from Islâmic Monotheism) say (to them O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "I give you a notice (of war as) to be known to us all alike. And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e. the torment or the Day of Resurrection) is near or far."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
تَوَلَّوْا۟
tawallaw
they turn away
فَقُلْ
faqul
then say
ءَاذَنتُكُمْ
ādhantukum
I (have) announced to you
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
equally
سَوَآءٍۢ ۖ
sawāin
equally
وَإِنْ
wa-in
And not
أَدْرِىٓ
adrī
I know
أَقَرِيبٌ
aqarībun
whether is near
أَم
am
or
بَعِيدٌۭ
baʿīdun
far
مَّا
mā
what
تُوعَدُونَ
tūʿadūna
you are promised
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 109) ➊ The word { فَاِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ اٰذَنْتُكُمْ … : ’’ إِنْ ‘‘} is used for doubt, meaning firstly, after such certain proofs, it is not possible that they would not become Muslim, but even after such clear and definitive proofs, if they turn away and do not become Muslim, then say to them that after you have turned away from Islam and monotheism, I am clearly informing you that you have turned away from monotheism, so I have also turned away from your polytheism, so that in knowing this matter, we both become equal. In Surah Al-Kafirun, this declaration has also been clearly stated in plain words.
➋ { وَ اِنْ اَدْرِيْۤ اَقَرِيْبٌ … :} means that because of turning away from monotheism, the coming of punishment upon you is inevitable, but I do not know whether the worldly or hereafter punishment that is being promised to you is near or far, because its exact time is known to none but Allah. In Surah Al-Jinn, it is said: «{ قُلْ اِنْ اَدْرِيْۤ اَقَرِيْبٌ مَّا تُوْعَدُوْنَ اَمْ يَجْعَلُ لَهٗ رَبِّيْۤ اَمَدًا }» [ الجن : ۲۵ ] "Say: I do not know whether what you are promised is near, or whether my Lord will set for it a (distant) term."
➋ { وَ اِنْ اَدْرِيْۤ اَقَرِيْبٌ … :} means that because of turning away from monotheism, the coming of punishment upon you is inevitable, but I do not know whether the worldly or hereafter punishment that is being promised to you is near or far, because its exact time is known to none but Allah. In Surah Al-Jinn, it is said: «{ قُلْ اِنْ اَدْرِيْۤ اَقَرِيْبٌ مَّا تُوْعَدُوْنَ اَمْ يَجْعَلُ لَهٗ رَبِّيْۤ اَمَدًا }» [ الجن : ۲۵ ] "Say: I do not know whether what you are promised is near, or whether my Lord will set for it a (distant) term."
