سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ
Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 28
فَإِن لَّمْ تَجِدُوا۟ فِيهَآ أَحَدًا فَلَا تَدْخُلُوهَا حَتَّىٰ يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱرْجِعُوا۟ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۖ هُوَ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ ﴿28﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if you find no one therein, still, enter not until permission has been given. And if you are asked to go back, go back, for it is purer for you. And Allâh is All-Knower of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
لَّمْ
lam
not
تَجِدُوا۟
tajidū
you find
فِيهَآ
fīhā
in it
أَحَدًۭا
aḥadan
anyone
فَلَا
falā
then (do) not
تَدْخُلُوهَا
tadkhulūhā
enter it
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يُؤْذَنَ
yu'dhana
permission has been given
لَكُمْ ۖ
lakum
to you
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
قِيلَ
qīla
it is said
لَكُمُ
lakumu
to you
ٱرْجِعُوا۟
ir'jiʿū
Go back
فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۖ
fa-ir'jiʿū
then go back
هُوَ
huwa
it
أَزْكَىٰ
azkā
(is) purer
لَكُمْ ۚ
lakum
for you
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
عَلِيمٌۭ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knower
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 28) ➊ { فَاِنْ لَّمْ تَجِدُوْا فِيْهَاۤ اَحَدًا فَلَا تَدْخُلُوْهَا :} That is, if there is no one present in the house, this does not make it permissible for you to enter there without permission. Just as every person does not like anyone to be aware of some of his personal states, similarly, he does not like anyone to be aware of some of his belongings, and it is quite possible that by entering without permission, you may be accused of theft or betrayal and a dispute may arise. However, if he has already given permission that even if I am not at home, you may come, then there is no harm in going there.
➋ { وَ اِنْ قِيْلَ لَكُمُ ارْجِعُوْا فَارْجِعُوْا:} That is, if you are told to go back, then go back; do not get angry, nor feel discomfort or humiliation due to pride, because the house owner has not withheld any right of yours that was obligatory upon him. He has the authority to grant permission or not, as he wishes. People have their own circumstances; who knows in what state someone may be.
➌ { هُوَ اَزْكٰى لَكُمْ:} That is, your returning is more honorable and purifying for you, because in this way you will be saved from the disrespect of standing at someone’s door, and by returning, the owner of the house will have respect for you, and above all, there is reward from Allah.
➍ { وَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ عَلِيْمٌ:} In this, there is a warning against entering any house with the intention of spying or with an evil intention.
➎ Tabari has narrated from some of the Muhajirun that all my life I wished that I would go to someone’s house and from inside I would be told to go back, and I would return, so that at least once I would have the good fortune to act upon this verse.
➋ { وَ اِنْ قِيْلَ لَكُمُ ارْجِعُوْا فَارْجِعُوْا:} That is, if you are told to go back, then go back; do not get angry, nor feel discomfort or humiliation due to pride, because the house owner has not withheld any right of yours that was obligatory upon him. He has the authority to grant permission or not, as he wishes. People have their own circumstances; who knows in what state someone may be.
➌ { هُوَ اَزْكٰى لَكُمْ:} That is, your returning is more honorable and purifying for you, because in this way you will be saved from the disrespect of standing at someone’s door, and by returning, the owner of the house will have respect for you, and above all, there is reward from Allah.
➍ { وَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ عَلِيْمٌ:} In this, there is a warning against entering any house with the intention of spying or with an evil intention.
➎ Tabari has narrated from some of the Muhajirun that all my life I wished that I would go to someone’s house and from inside I would be told to go back, and I would return, so that at least once I would have the good fortune to act upon this verse.
