سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 73
وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَإِقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا عَـٰبِدِينَ ﴿73﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We made them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, performing Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and the giving of Zakât and of Us (Alone) they were the worshippers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ
wajaʿalnāhum
And We made them
أَئِمَّةًۭ
a-immatan
leaders
يَهْدُونَ
yahdūna
they guide
بِأَمْرِنَا
bi-amrinā
by Our Command
وَأَوْحَيْنَآ
wa-awḥaynā
And We inspired
إِلَيْهِمْ
ilayhim
to them
فِعْلَ
fiʿ'la
(the) doing
ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ
l-khayrāti
(of) good deeds
وَإِقَامَ
wa-iqāma
and establishment
ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ
l-ṣalati
(of) the prayer
وَإِيتَآءَ
waītāa
and giving
ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ ۖ
l-zakati
(of) zakah
وَكَانُوا۟
wakānū
and they were
لَنَا
lanā
of Us
عَـٰبِدِينَ
ʿābidīna
worshippers
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 73) ➊ { وَ جَعَلْنٰهُمْ اَىِٕمَّةً يَّهْدُوْنَ بِاَمْرِنَا :} That is, not only were they themselves completely upright and fully obedient to Us in every respect, but they were also leaders of their people who, according to Our revelation, would invite others towards the truth. It is understood from this that the real guidance is only that which is according to the command of Allah, and those leaders who give rulings without Allah’s command are not leaders of guidance, but leaders of misguidance.
➋ {وَ اَوْحَيْنَاۤ اِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرٰتِ … :} That is, in addition to righteousness and leadership, We also honored them with Our revelation. Although all good deeds are included in {’’فِعْلَ الْخَيْرٰتِ ‘‘}, after accepting Islam, among the rights of Allah, the most important act is prayer, and among the rights of the servants, the most important right is zakat, which is mentioned specifically, because if these are not fulfilled, then Islam itself is not valid. See Surah At-Tawbah (5).
➌ {وَ كَانُوْا لَنَا عٰبِدِيْنَ : ’’ لَنَا ‘‘} By coming first, exclusivity is created in the statement, meaning they were only worshippers of Us, and did not associate anyone else with Us.
➋ {وَ اَوْحَيْنَاۤ اِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرٰتِ … :} That is, in addition to righteousness and leadership, We also honored them with Our revelation. Although all good deeds are included in {’’فِعْلَ الْخَيْرٰتِ ‘‘}, after accepting Islam, among the rights of Allah, the most important act is prayer, and among the rights of the servants, the most important right is zakat, which is mentioned specifically, because if these are not fulfilled, then Islam itself is not valid. See Surah At-Tawbah (5).
➌ {وَ كَانُوْا لَنَا عٰبِدِيْنَ : ’’ لَنَا ‘‘} By coming first, exclusivity is created in the statement, meaning they were only worshippers of Us, and did not associate anyone else with Us.
