سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 55
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا۟ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِى ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ ﴿55﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when they hear Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk), they withdraw from it and say: "To us our deeds, and to you your deeds. Peace be to you. We seek not (the way of) the ignorant."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
سَمِعُوا۟
samiʿū
they hear
ٱللَّغْوَ
l-laghwa
vain talk
أَعْرَضُوا۟
aʿraḍū
they turn away
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
from it
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
and say
لَنَآ
lanā
For us
أَعْمَـٰلُنَا
aʿmālunā
our deeds
وَلَكُمْ
walakum
and for you
أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ
aʿmālukum
your deeds
سَلَـٰمٌ
salāmun
Peace (be)
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
on you
لَا
lā
not
نَبْتَغِى
nabtaghī
we seek
ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
l-jāhilīna
the ignorant
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 55) ➊ { وَ اِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ اَعْرَضُوْا عَنْهُ:} That is, when they hear any vain talk, they keep away from it, as He said: { وَ اِذَا مَرُّوْا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوْا كِرَامًا } [ الفرقان : ۷۲ ] "When they pass by idle talk, they pass by with dignity."
➋ { وَ قَالُوْا لَنَاۤ اَعْمَالُنَا وَ لَكُمْ اَعْمَالُكُمْ :} That is, when any ignorant person does something foolish or says something inappropriate, they do not respond in kind, but rather say, "For us are our deeds and for you are your deeds. If you act ignorantly, we will remain patient." See also Surah Ash-Shura (15) and Saba (25, 26).
➌ { سَلٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ:} Elsewhere He said: «{ وَ اِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجٰهِلُوْنَ قَالُوْا سَلٰمًا }» [ الفرقان : ۶۳ ] "And when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace." The "peace" to the ignorant is not a greeting of love and supplication, but a farewell and a sign of severing ties. Some scholars have said that "peace" among the believers is a supplication for one another, and to the ignorant, it is a sign of bearing their ignorance.
➍ From this it is understood that if it is not expected that an ignorant person will understand by explanation, then it is better to keep away from him.
➎ { لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجٰهِلِيْنَ :} That is, we do not desire the ignorant for friendship or company, nor do we want them for rivalry in ignorance, abuse, or quarrels, but rather we keep away from them by saying peace from a distance. This is said in the heart, because saying it aloud may unnecessarily cause a dispute.
➋ { وَ قَالُوْا لَنَاۤ اَعْمَالُنَا وَ لَكُمْ اَعْمَالُكُمْ :} That is, when any ignorant person does something foolish or says something inappropriate, they do not respond in kind, but rather say, "For us are our deeds and for you are your deeds. If you act ignorantly, we will remain patient." See also Surah Ash-Shura (15) and Saba (25, 26).
➌ { سَلٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ:} Elsewhere He said: «{ وَ اِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجٰهِلُوْنَ قَالُوْا سَلٰمًا }» [ الفرقان : ۶۳ ] "And when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace." The "peace" to the ignorant is not a greeting of love and supplication, but a farewell and a sign of severing ties. Some scholars have said that "peace" among the believers is a supplication for one another, and to the ignorant, it is a sign of bearing their ignorance.
➍ From this it is understood that if it is not expected that an ignorant person will understand by explanation, then it is better to keep away from him.
➎ { لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجٰهِلِيْنَ :} That is, we do not desire the ignorant for friendship or company, nor do we want them for rivalry in ignorance, abuse, or quarrels, but rather we keep away from them by saying peace from a distance. This is said in the heart, because saying it aloud may unnecessarily cause a dispute.
