سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 27
لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُۥ بِٱلْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِۦ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿27﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His Command.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَا
lā
Not
يَسْبِقُونَهُۥ
yasbiqūnahu
they (can) precede Him
بِٱلْقَوْلِ
bil-qawli
in word
وَهُم
wahum
and they
بِأَمْرِهِۦ
bi-amrihi
by His command
يَعْمَلُونَ
yaʿmalūna
act
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 27) ➊ {لَا يَسْبِقُوْنَهٗ بِالْقَوْلِ :} That is, their state of servitude and obedience is such that they do not even speak without His permission.
➋ By bringing { وَ هُمْ بِاَمْرِهٖ يَعْمَلُوْنَ : ’’ بِاَمْرِهٖ ‘‘} first, two things become clear: one, that whatever they do, they do so by His command, and not without His command. Second, that they do every action only by His command, not by anyone else's command. Reflect, this is the height of servitude and slavery, that without the master's will, they neither speak nor do anything—can children ever be like this? In this verse as well, Allah Almighty has negated having children for Himself.
➋ By bringing { وَ هُمْ بِاَمْرِهٖ يَعْمَلُوْنَ : ’’ بِاَمْرِهٖ ‘‘} first, two things become clear: one, that whatever they do, they do so by His command, and not without His command. Second, that they do every action only by His command, not by anyone else's command. Reflect, this is the height of servitude and slavery, that without the master's will, they neither speak nor do anything—can children ever be like this? In this verse as well, Allah Almighty has negated having children for Himself.
