سُوْرَةُ الشُّعَرَآءِ
Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 77
فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّىٓ إِلَّا رَبَّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿77﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"Verily they are enemies to me, save the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists),
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِنَّهُمْ
fa-innahum
Indeed, they
عَدُوٌّۭ
ʿaduwwun
(are) enemies
لِّىٓ
lī
to me
إِلَّا
illā
except
رَبَّ
rabba
(the) Lord
ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
l-ʿālamīna
(of) the worlds
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 77) ➊ It is on the pattern of {فَاِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّيْۤ اِلَّا رَبَّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ: ’’ عَدُوٌّ ‘‘ ’’فَعُوْلٌ‘‘}, singular, plural, masculine, and feminine, used equally for all, that is why in {’’ فَاِنَّهُمْ ‘‘} even though it is the predicate of a plural, the singular is used. That is, all those things which you and your earliest forefathers have been worshipping are my enemies. Yes, if any among them has also worshipped {’’رب العالمين‘‘}, then only {’’رب العالمين‘‘} is my friend.
➋ Here is a question: Ibrahim was the enemy of the idols (peace be upon him), but what enmity did the idols have with him? So instead of saying that I am their enemy, why was it said that they are my enemies? There are two answers to this: one is that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) wanted to tell them that those whom you worship besides Allah, no matter how much you love them or worship them, on the Day of Resurrection they will become your enemies. Only the pure being of Allah, the Exalted, will remain the friend of His worshippers, as Allah the Exalted has said: «{ وَ مَنْ اَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ يَّدْعُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ مَنْ لَّا يَسْتَجِيْبُ لَهٗۤ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ وَ هُمْ عَنْ دُعَآىِٕهِمْ غٰفِلُوْنَ (5) وَ اِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوْا لَهُمْ اَعْدَآءً وَّ كَانُوْا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كٰفِرِيْنَ }» [ الأحقاف : ۵، ۶ ] "And who is more astray than he who calls upon, besides Allah, those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they are unaware of their supplication. And when the people are gathered together, they will be enemies to them and will deny their worship." The same thing is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah (165, 166) and Surah Maryam (81, 82). But instead of saying, "Your deities will be your enemies," Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said, "These deities of yours (if I worship them) will be my enemies." In this, he preserved wisdom and prudence in his invitation, so that the listener would think that just as Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is concerned that in the case of worshipping idols, he will gain nothing but their enmity, similarly, I should also be concerned for myself.
The second answer is that {’’ عَدُوٌّ ‘‘} (enemy) is not only used for one who is hostile to you, but also for one whom you are hostile to. When one wants to express intense enmity towards someone, it is said that he is my enemy, and when one wants to express intense love, it is said that he is my friend. Mirza Ghalib has said:
"This is what you call testing, then what do you call tormenting?
When you have become the enemy's, then why are you testing me?"
Thus, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) has, to express his intense enmity, declared them his enemy and "the Lord of the worlds" his friend.
➌ The expression of enmity towards idols by Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in these words has been expressed elsewhere in these words: «{وَ تَاللّٰهِ لَاَكِيْدَنَّ اَصْنَامَكُمْ بَعْدَ اَنْ تُوَلُّوْا مُدْبِرِيْنَ }» [ الأنبیاء : ۵۷ ] "And by Allah! I will surely secretly plan against your idols after you have turned your backs and gone away." Then Ibrahim (peace be upon him) also demonstrated this enmity practically by breaking the idols. In these words, there is also the expression that I am not at all afraid of your idols, they cannot harm me in any way, my relationship with them and with you is one of enmity. (See Al-Mumtahanah: 4; Al-An'am: 80, 81) Other great messengers of Allah also openly declared regarding the disbelievers and their deities that they do not care what they can do against them, nor do they fear them. Regarding Nuh (peace be upon him), see Surah Yunus (71), and regarding Hud (peace be upon him), see Surah Hud (55, 56).
➋ Here is a question: Ibrahim was the enemy of the idols (peace be upon him), but what enmity did the idols have with him? So instead of saying that I am their enemy, why was it said that they are my enemies? There are two answers to this: one is that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) wanted to tell them that those whom you worship besides Allah, no matter how much you love them or worship them, on the Day of Resurrection they will become your enemies. Only the pure being of Allah, the Exalted, will remain the friend of His worshippers, as Allah the Exalted has said: «{ وَ مَنْ اَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ يَّدْعُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ مَنْ لَّا يَسْتَجِيْبُ لَهٗۤ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ وَ هُمْ عَنْ دُعَآىِٕهِمْ غٰفِلُوْنَ (5) وَ اِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوْا لَهُمْ اَعْدَآءً وَّ كَانُوْا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كٰفِرِيْنَ }» [ الأحقاف : ۵، ۶ ] "And who is more astray than he who calls upon, besides Allah, those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they are unaware of their supplication. And when the people are gathered together, they will be enemies to them and will deny their worship." The same thing is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah (165, 166) and Surah Maryam (81, 82). But instead of saying, "Your deities will be your enemies," Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said, "These deities of yours (if I worship them) will be my enemies." In this, he preserved wisdom and prudence in his invitation, so that the listener would think that just as Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is concerned that in the case of worshipping idols, he will gain nothing but their enmity, similarly, I should also be concerned for myself.
The second answer is that {’’ عَدُوٌّ ‘‘} (enemy) is not only used for one who is hostile to you, but also for one whom you are hostile to. When one wants to express intense enmity towards someone, it is said that he is my enemy, and when one wants to express intense love, it is said that he is my friend. Mirza Ghalib has said:
"This is what you call testing, then what do you call tormenting?
When you have become the enemy's, then why are you testing me?"
Thus, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) has, to express his intense enmity, declared them his enemy and "the Lord of the worlds" his friend.
➌ The expression of enmity towards idols by Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in these words has been expressed elsewhere in these words: «{وَ تَاللّٰهِ لَاَكِيْدَنَّ اَصْنَامَكُمْ بَعْدَ اَنْ تُوَلُّوْا مُدْبِرِيْنَ }» [ الأنبیاء : ۵۷ ] "And by Allah! I will surely secretly plan against your idols after you have turned your backs and gone away." Then Ibrahim (peace be upon him) also demonstrated this enmity practically by breaking the idols. In these words, there is also the expression that I am not at all afraid of your idols, they cannot harm me in any way, my relationship with them and with you is one of enmity. (See Al-Mumtahanah: 4; Al-An'am: 80, 81) Other great messengers of Allah also openly declared regarding the disbelievers and their deities that they do not care what they can do against them, nor do they fear them. Regarding Nuh (peace be upon him), see Surah Yunus (71), and regarding Hud (peace be upon him), see Surah Hud (55, 56).
