سُوْرَةُ الشُّعَرَآءِ
Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 197
أَوَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ ءَايَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُۥ عُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ﴿197﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Is it not a sign to them that the learned scholars (like ‘Abdullâh bin Salâm رضي الله عنه who embraced Islâm) of the Children of Israel knew it (as true)?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوَلَمْ
awalam
Is it not
يَكُن
yakun
Is it not
لَّهُمْ
lahum
to them
ءَايَةً
āyatan
a sign
أَن
an
that
يَعْلَمَهُۥ
yaʿlamahu
know it
عُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟
ʿulamāu
(the) scholars
بَنِىٓ
banī
(of the) Children
إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
is'rāīla
(of) Israel
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 197) {اَوَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُمْ اٰيَةً …:} That is, is it not sufficient for the polytheists of Makkah to know that the Qur’an is indeed revealed from Allah and mentioned in the previous scriptures, and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last Prophet, that the scholars of the Children of Israel are aware of this, as is evident from the testimony of those among them who believed, such as Abdullah bin Salam and Salman al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with them), and as some of them mention this openly and some in their private gatherings, though due to certain considerations they did not accept faith. The testimony of the People of the Book is considered a proof for the polytheists of Makkah because they used to refer to them for information about previous scriptures and accepted what they said as authentic. Najashi and his courtiers openly acknowledged the truth after hearing the verses of Surah Maryam from Ja’far (may Allah be pleased with him). See Surah al-Ma’idah (83), also see al-Qasas (52, 53). In the verse, the word {’’ اٰيَةً ‘‘ ’’ لَمْ يَكُنْ ‘‘} is the predicate and {’’ اَنْ يَّعْلَمَهٗ … ‘‘} is, by interpretation of the infinitive, its postponed subject. (Qurtubi, Shawkani)
