سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 39
لَوْ يَعْلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ حِينَ لَا يَكُفُّونَ عَن وُجُوهِهِمُ ٱلنَّارَ وَلَا عَن ظُهُورِهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ ﴿39﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If only those who disbelieved knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs, and they will not be helped.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَوْ
law
If
يَعْلَمُ
yaʿlamu
knew
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieved
حِينَ
ḥīna
(the) time
لَا
lā
(when) not
يَكُفُّونَ
yakuffūna
they will avert
عَن
ʿan
from
وُجُوهِهِمُ
wujūhihimu
their faces
ٱلنَّارَ
l-nāra
the Fire
وَلَا
walā
and not
عَن
ʿan
from
ظُهُورِهِمْ
ẓuhūrihim
their backs
وَلَا
walā
and not
هُمْ
hum
they
يُنصَرُونَ
yunṣarūna
will be helped
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 39) ➊ { لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا …:} That is, the real reason for their denial of the punishment and considering it impossible is their ignorance; they do not even have knowledge of the time when the Fire will surround them from all sides. They will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, which is the most important and beautiful part of their body, nor from their backs, which is the strongest part of the body. When they cannot save these parts from the Fire, how will they save the other parts? The mention of the disbelievers being surrounded by the Fire from all sides has come in several places. See Surah Al-Kahf (29), Al-A'raf (41), Az-Zumar (16), Ibrahim (50), Al-Mu’minun (104), and other verses. There are two interpretations of "Law": one is that it is a conditional particle and its result is omitted, which is understood by itself, i.e., if the disbelievers knew that time, they would neither ever hasten for it, nor mock it, nor deny it. The second interpretation is that it is a particle of wish, i.e., "If only the disbelievers knew that time." In this case, there is no need for a result.
➋ { وَ لَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُوْنَ :} No one will come to help them, nor will they be able to help themselves or each other. See Surah At-Tariq (10), As-Saffat (25, 26), and Ash-Shu'ara (92 to 95).
➋ { وَ لَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُوْنَ :} No one will come to help them, nor will they be able to help themselves or each other. See Surah At-Tariq (10), As-Saffat (25, 26), and Ash-Shu'ara (92 to 95).
