سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ
Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 24
يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿24﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their legs (or feet) will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَوْمَ
yawma
(On a) Day
تَشْهَدُ
tashhadu
will bear witness
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
against them
أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ
alsinatuhum
their tongues
وَأَيْدِيهِمْ
wa-aydīhim
and their hands
وَأَرْجُلُهُم
wa-arjuluhum
and their feet
بِمَا
bimā
for what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used
يَعْمَلُونَ
yaʿmalūna
(to) do
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 24) ➊ { يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ اَلْسِنَتُهُمْ … :} For its details, see Surah Ya-Sin (65) and Surah Ha Mim As-Sajdah (19 to 21), that is, these limbs will testify against them regarding slander and other evil deeds. Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says: [ كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ فَضَحِكَ فَقَالَ هَلْ تَدْرُوْنَ مِمَّا أَضْحَكُ؟ قَالَ قُلْنَا اللّٰهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ، قَالَ مِنْ مُخَاطَبَةِ الْعَبْدِ رَبَّهُ، يَقُوْلُ يَا رَبِّ! أَلَمْ تُجِرْنِيْ مِنَ الظُّلْمِ؟ قَالَ يَقُوْلُ بَلٰی، قَالَ فَيَقُوْلُ فَإِنِّيْ لَا أُجِيْزُ عَلٰی نَفْسِيْ إِلَّا شَاهِدًا مِنِّيْ، قَالَ فَيَقُوْلُ كَفٰی بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ شَهِيْدًا، وَ بِالْكِرَامِ الْكَاتِبِيْنَ شُهُوْدًا، قَالَ : فَيُخْتَمُ عَلٰی فِيْهِ، فَيُقَالُ لِأَرْكَانِهِ انْطِقِيْ، قَالَ فَتَنْطِقُ بِأَعْمَالِهِ، قَالَ ثُمَّ يُخَلّٰی بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ الْكَلَامِ، قَالَ فَيَقُوْلُ بُعْدًا لَكُنَّ وَ سُحْقًا، فَعَنْكُنَّ كُنْتُ أُنَاضِلُ] [مسلم، الزھد، باب الدنیا سجن للمؤمن … : ۲۹۶۹ ] “We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he laughed and said: ‘Do you know what made me laugh?’ We said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said: ‘The servant’s conversation with his Lord, he will say: “O my Lord! Did You not protect me from injustice?” Allah will say: “Yes, indeed!” Then he will say: “Then I do not accept any witness against myself except myself.” Allah will say: “Today you are sufficient as a witness against yourself, and the noble scribes are sufficient witnesses.”’ So, a seal will be set upon his mouth and it will be said to his limbs, ‘Speak!’ So they will speak and inform of his deeds. Then he will be allowed to speak, and he will say to his limbs: ‘Away with you and destruction to you! I was only defending you!’”
➋ Although the tongue speaks in the world as well, here it speaks according to the will of the servant, because Allah’s command is so; there, it will speak according to Allah’s will, in accordance with the real truth, because it will be commanded so.
➌ Although other limbs of the body will also speak, as mentioned in Surah Ha Mim As-Sajdah (20, 21) about the skins speaking, here the tongue, hands, and feet are mentioned specifically because these limbs are more involved in slander; the words of the tongue, gestures of the hands, and running about of the feet complete the act of slander.
➍ The tongue is a piece of flesh; by the command of the Lord who created the power of speech in it, the same power will be created in every part of the body by His command. Therefore, one should not be surprised at the speech of the hands, feet, and skins. He said: «{ اِنَّمَاۤ اَمْرُهٗۤ اِذَاۤ اَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا اَنْ يَّقُوْلَ لَهٗ كُنْ فَيَكُوْنُ }» [ یٰسٓ : ۸۲ ] “His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.” Nowadays, sound comes out of plastic CDs and cassettes, and no one is surprised.
➋ Although the tongue speaks in the world as well, here it speaks according to the will of the servant, because Allah’s command is so; there, it will speak according to Allah’s will, in accordance with the real truth, because it will be commanded so.
➌ Although other limbs of the body will also speak, as mentioned in Surah Ha Mim As-Sajdah (20, 21) about the skins speaking, here the tongue, hands, and feet are mentioned specifically because these limbs are more involved in slander; the words of the tongue, gestures of the hands, and running about of the feet complete the act of slander.
➍ The tongue is a piece of flesh; by the command of the Lord who created the power of speech in it, the same power will be created in every part of the body by His command. Therefore, one should not be surprised at the speech of the hands, feet, and skins. He said: «{ اِنَّمَاۤ اَمْرُهٗۤ اِذَاۤ اَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا اَنْ يَّقُوْلَ لَهٗ كُنْ فَيَكُوْنُ }» [ یٰسٓ : ۸۲ ] “His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.” Nowadays, sound comes out of plastic CDs and cassettes, and no one is surprised.
