سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 71
وَلَوِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ لَفَسَدَتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ بَلْ أَتَيْنَـٰهُم بِذِكْرِهِمْ فَهُمْ عَن ذِكْرِهِم مُّعْرِضُونَ ﴿71﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if the truth had been in accordance with their desires, verily, the heavens and the earth, and whosoever is therein would have been corrupted! Nay, We have brought them their reminder, but they turn away from their reminder.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَوِ
walawi
But if
ٱتَّبَعَ
ittabaʿa
(had) followed
ٱلْحَقُّ
l-ḥaqu
the truth
أَهْوَآءَهُمْ
ahwāahum
their desires
لَفَسَدَتِ
lafasadati
surely (would) have been corrupted
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ
l-samāwātu
the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضُ
wal-arḍu
and the earth
وَمَن
waman
and whoever
فِيهِنَّ ۚ
fīhinna
(is) therein
بَلْ
bal
Nay
أَتَيْنَـٰهُم
ataynāhum
We have brought them
بِذِكْرِهِمْ
bidhik'rihim
their reminder
فَهُمْ
fahum
but they
عَن
ʿan
from
ذِكْرِهِم
dhik'rihim
their reminder
مُّعْرِضُونَ
muʿ'riḍūna
(are) turning away
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 71) ➊ { وَ لَوِ اتَّبَعَ الْحَقُّ اَهْوَآءَهُمْ …:} That is, if the truth were to follow their desires, the system of the heavens and the earth would be destroyed, because each of their desires clashes with the desire of another, and their knowledge is limited; they neither possess knowledge of the entire existing universe nor have any information about the future. Acting upon their desires would result in nothing but ruin. Why go far? The elected representatives of countries make a law; when its flaws become apparent, they abolish it and make another, and after some time, that too has to be changed. How many laws have they themselves made, as a result of which they themselves ended up hanging from the noose? Then these people worship many deities besides Allah; if, according to their desire, the system of the universe were handed over to more than one deity, just think—could this system continue even for a moment? This universe is running only by the command of one Master, who Himself is the Truth, His word is the truth, and everything about Him is true. See the commentary of Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayah (22): «لَوْ كَانَ فِيْهِمَاۤ اٰلِهَةٌ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ لَفَسَدَتَا ».
➋ { بَلْ اَتَيْنٰهُمْ بِذِكْرِهِمْ … :} "Dhikr" has two meanings: one is admonition, and the other is honor, dignity, and fame. Here, both are correct. Admonition, because the disbelievers of Makkah could have said: « لَوْ اَنَّاۤ اُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْكِتٰبُ لَكُنَّاۤ اَهْدٰى مِنْهُمْ» [ الأنعام : ۱۵۷ ] "If a book had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than the previous nations." Allah Almighty did not even give them a chance to complain and Himself revealed the very book which is an admonition for them, but since it contained matters of reforming their faults and shortcomings, due to arrogance and stubbornness, instead of accepting it, they turned away from their own admonition and well-wishing. The use of the active participle {’’ مُعْرِضُوْنَ ‘‘} instead of the past tense {’’أَعْرَضُوْا‘‘} means that they did not turn away just once or twice, but became persistent turners-away. The second meaning of "dhikr" is honor, dignity, and fame, that is, this Qur’an is a source of honor and fame for the believers, especially for the Arabs, in the entire world until the Day of Judgment, but these unfortunate ones cannot even appreciate their own fame and honor. This second meaning seems more appropriate here. (And Allah knows best)
➋ { بَلْ اَتَيْنٰهُمْ بِذِكْرِهِمْ … :} "Dhikr" has two meanings: one is admonition, and the other is honor, dignity, and fame. Here, both are correct. Admonition, because the disbelievers of Makkah could have said: « لَوْ اَنَّاۤ اُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْكِتٰبُ لَكُنَّاۤ اَهْدٰى مِنْهُمْ» [ الأنعام : ۱۵۷ ] "If a book had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than the previous nations." Allah Almighty did not even give them a chance to complain and Himself revealed the very book which is an admonition for them, but since it contained matters of reforming their faults and shortcomings, due to arrogance and stubbornness, instead of accepting it, they turned away from their own admonition and well-wishing. The use of the active participle {’’ مُعْرِضُوْنَ ‘‘} instead of the past tense {’’أَعْرَضُوْا‘‘} means that they did not turn away just once or twice, but became persistent turners-away. The second meaning of "dhikr" is honor, dignity, and fame, that is, this Qur’an is a source of honor and fame for the believers, especially for the Arabs, in the entire world until the Day of Judgment, but these unfortunate ones cannot even appreciate their own fame and honor. This second meaning seems more appropriate here. (And Allah knows best)
