سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 2
مَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن ذِكْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِم مُّحْدَثٍ إِلَّا ٱسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ ﴿2﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Comes not unto them an admonition (a chapter of the Qur’ân) from their Lord as a recent revelation but they listen to it while they play
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَا
mā
Not
يَأْتِيهِم
yatīhim
comes to them
مِّن
min
of
ذِكْرٍۢ
dhik'rin
a Reminder
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّهِم
rabbihim
their Lord
مُّحْدَثٍ
muḥ'dathin
anew
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱسْتَمَعُوهُ
is'tamaʿūhu
they listen to it
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
يَلْعَبُونَ
yalʿabūna
(are at) play
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 2) ➊ The meaning of { مَا يَاْتِيْهِمْ مِّنْ ذِكْرٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ …:’’ اِلَّا اسْتَمَعُوْهُ ‘‘ ’’سَمِعَ يَسْمَعُ‘‘} is to listen; with the addition of the letter "ta" in the form of "ifti'al," the meaning is intensified, which, according to the context, is self-explanatory. Generally, the meaning of {’’اِسْتَمَعَ‘‘} is to listen attentively, but obviously, for the disbelievers, it is difficult to listen to the admonition attentively, especially when they are mocking it. Therefore, the meaning is rendered as "but they listen to it with difficulty."
➋ In the previous verse, there was mention of people being caught in heedlessness and turning away. In this verse, it is stated that to awaken them from this heedlessness, new admonition continues to come to them from their Lord in the form of the Qur'an and Sunnah, but far from accepting it, they do not even listen to it with attention and satisfaction; rather, they listen to it with great difficulty and aversion while playing and mocking.
➌ From {’’ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ ‘‘} (admonition from their Lord), it is understood that the Lord Almighty is not only the Lord and Sustainer who fulfills the needs of food, drink, and worldly necessities, but also the Lord who provides for the spiritual needs of man and the things that guarantee salvation in the Hereafter.
➍ The meaning of {’’ مُحْدَثٍ ‘‘} is "new," that is, from Allah Almighty, new admonition continues to come to people in the form of the Qur'an and Hadith. From this, it is understood that Allah Almighty can speak whenever and whatever He wills. Some people denied the Qur'an as the speech of Allah Almighty, rather they declared it to be created and said that it is impossible for Allah Almighty to speak. For details of this discussion, see Surah Al-A'raf (143), At-Tawbah (6), and Al-Kahf (109).
➋ In the previous verse, there was mention of people being caught in heedlessness and turning away. In this verse, it is stated that to awaken them from this heedlessness, new admonition continues to come to them from their Lord in the form of the Qur'an and Sunnah, but far from accepting it, they do not even listen to it with attention and satisfaction; rather, they listen to it with great difficulty and aversion while playing and mocking.
➌ From {’’ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ ‘‘} (admonition from their Lord), it is understood that the Lord Almighty is not only the Lord and Sustainer who fulfills the needs of food, drink, and worldly necessities, but also the Lord who provides for the spiritual needs of man and the things that guarantee salvation in the Hereafter.
➍ The meaning of {’’ مُحْدَثٍ ‘‘} is "new," that is, from Allah Almighty, new admonition continues to come to people in the form of the Qur'an and Hadith. From this, it is understood that Allah Almighty can speak whenever and whatever He wills. Some people denied the Qur'an as the speech of Allah Almighty, rather they declared it to be created and said that it is impossible for Allah Almighty to speak. For details of this discussion, see Surah Al-A'raf (143), At-Tawbah (6), and Al-Kahf (109).
