سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 68
لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا هَـٰذَا نَحْنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿68﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"Indeed we were promised this - we and our forefathers before (us), verily, these are nothing but tales of ancients."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَقَدْ
laqad
Certainly
وُعِدْنَا
wuʿid'nā
we have been promised
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
this
نَحْنُ
naḥnu
we
وَءَابَآؤُنَا
waābāunā
and our forefathers
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ
qablu
before
إِنْ
in
Not
هَـٰذَآ
hādhā
(is) this
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَسَـٰطِيرُ
asāṭīru
tales
ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
l-awalīna
(of) the former (people)
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 68) ➊ {لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا هٰذَا نَحْنُ وَ اٰبَآؤُنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ:} This promise, that is, of being raised from the graves, was made to us and before us to our forefathers as well. Here, the word {’’ هٰذَا ‘‘} comes before {’’ نَحْنُ ‘‘}, whereas in Surah Al-Mu’minun, the word {’’ نَحْنُ ‘‘} comes first, as stated: «{ لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا نَحْنُ وَ اٰبَآؤُنَا هٰذَا }» [ المؤمنون : ۸۳ ] The commentators have explained its wisdom that, according to the context, the word which is more important is mentioned first. By comparing both places, this point becomes easily understandable.
➋ {اِنْ هٰذَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اَسَاطِيْرُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ:} That is, the same promises were made to our elders before, and these are the same things this Prophet is narrating. In reality, these are merely fictional tales that the people of old invented to run the affairs of the world and to keep the rebellious under control, and they have been narrated from generation to generation. Until today, we have neither seen nor heard that any person has come back to life after dying, or that anyone has received reward for good or punishment for evil. Even in our times, those who deny the Hereafter have no greater argument than this, although this matter is not related to seeing or hearing, but rather it entirely depends on the report of such a truthful (Prophet) to whom Allah Almighty has given the news.
➋ {اِنْ هٰذَاۤ اِلَّاۤ اَسَاطِيْرُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَ:} That is, the same promises were made to our elders before, and these are the same things this Prophet is narrating. In reality, these are merely fictional tales that the people of old invented to run the affairs of the world and to keep the rebellious under control, and they have been narrated from generation to generation. Until today, we have neither seen nor heard that any person has come back to life after dying, or that anyone has received reward for good or punishment for evil. Even in our times, those who deny the Hereafter have no greater argument than this, although this matter is not related to seeing or hearing, but rather it entirely depends on the report of such a truthful (Prophet) to whom Allah Almighty has given the news.
