سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 46
وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ إِذْ نَادَيْنَا وَلَـٰكِن رَّحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّآ أَتَىٰهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿46﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) were not at the side of the Tûr (Mount) when We did call: [it is said that Allâh called the followers of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and they answered His Call, or that Allâh called Mûsâ (Moses)]. But (you are sent) as a mercy from your Lord, to give warning to a people to whom no warner had come before you: in order that they may remember or receive admonition. [Tafsir At-Tabarî].
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كُنتَ
kunta
you were
بِجَانِبِ
bijānibi
at (the) side
ٱلطُّورِ
l-ṭūri
(of) the Tur
إِذْ
idh
when
نَادَيْنَا
nādaynā
We called
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
But
رَّحْمَةًۭ
raḥmatan
(as) a mercy
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّكَ
rabbika
your Lord
لِتُنذِرَ
litundhira
so that you warn
قَوْمًۭا
qawman
a people
مَّآ
mā
not
أَتَىٰهُم
atāhum
(had) come to them
مِّن
min
any
نَّذِيرٍۢ
nadhīrin
warner
مِّن
min
before you
قَبْلِكَ
qablika
before you
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
yatadhakkarūna
remember
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 46) ➊ { وَ مَا كُنْتَ بِجَانِبِ الطُّوْرِ اِذْ نَادَيْنَا:} In these three verses, by the repetition of {’’ وَ مَا كُنْتَ ‘‘} (And you were not present there), the truthfulness and authenticity of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is made clear: that when you were not present at any of these places, yet you state the real facts about them correctly and exactly as they happened, then this is an open proof and clear evidence that you are the true Messenger of Allah. His revelation comes to you, through which you narrate all this with such accuracy.
➋ With the repetition of { ’’ وَ مَا كُنْتَ ‘‘} (And you were not present there), this important reality is also clarified that prophets are not present and witnessing everywhere, nor are they all-knowing of the unseen. Whatever knowledge they have is through revelation, and that too only as much as is revealed.
➌ { وَ لٰكِنْ رَّحْمَةً مِّنْ رَّبِّكَ:} That is, you did not come to know of these events because you were present at those occasions or were witnessing them, rather, it is the mercy of your Lord that He granted you prophethood and blessed you with revelation.
➍ {لِتُنْذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّاۤ اَتٰىهُمْ مِّنْ نَّذِيْرٍ …:} By this nation is meant the people of Makkah and Arabia. Among them, after Ibrahim, Ismail, and Shu'ayb, peace be upon them, no prophet had come. In this long period of thousands of years, the messages of prophets from outside did reach there, for example, the message of Musa and Isa, peace be upon them, because without this, their persistence in disbelief and polytheism been excusable, whereas Allah Almighty has left no excuse for anyone. However, in that particular land, no prophet was sent. Therefore, Allah Almighty sent the last Messenger there. For verses on this subject, see Surah As-Sajdah (3) and Ya-Sin (1 to 6).
➋ With the repetition of { ’’ وَ مَا كُنْتَ ‘‘} (And you were not present there), this important reality is also clarified that prophets are not present and witnessing everywhere, nor are they all-knowing of the unseen. Whatever knowledge they have is through revelation, and that too only as much as is revealed.
➌ { وَ لٰكِنْ رَّحْمَةً مِّنْ رَّبِّكَ:} That is, you did not come to know of these events because you were present at those occasions or were witnessing them, rather, it is the mercy of your Lord that He granted you prophethood and blessed you with revelation.
➍ {لِتُنْذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّاۤ اَتٰىهُمْ مِّنْ نَّذِيْرٍ …:} By this nation is meant the people of Makkah and Arabia. Among them, after Ibrahim, Ismail, and Shu'ayb, peace be upon them, no prophet had come. In this long period of thousands of years, the messages of prophets from outside did reach there, for example, the message of Musa and Isa, peace be upon them, because without this, their persistence in disbelief and polytheism been excusable, whereas Allah Almighty has left no excuse for anyone. However, in that particular land, no prophet was sent. Therefore, Allah Almighty sent the last Messenger there. For verses on this subject, see Surah As-Sajdah (3) and Ya-Sin (1 to 6).
