سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 85
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِى فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لَرَآدُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَمَنْ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿85﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, He Who has given you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) the Qur’an (i.e. ordered you to act on its laws and to preach it to others) will surely bring you back to Ma‘âd (place of return, either to Makkah or to Paradise after your death). Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "My Lord is Aware of him who brings guidance, and of him who is in manifest error."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
He Who
فَرَضَ
faraḍa
ordained
عَلَيْكَ
ʿalayka
upon you
ٱلْقُرْءَانَ
l-qur'āna
the Quran
لَرَآدُّكَ
larādduka
(will) surely take you back
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
مَعَادٍۢ ۚ
maʿādin
a place of return
قُل
qul
Say
رَّبِّىٓ
rabbī
My Lord
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
(is) most knowing
مَن
man
(of him) who
جَآءَ
jāa
comes
بِٱلْهُدَىٰ
bil-hudā
with the guidance
وَمَنْ
waman
and who
هُوَ
huwa
he
فِى
fī
(is) in
ضَلَـٰلٍۢ
ḍalālin
an error
مُّبِينٍۢ
mubīnin
manifest
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 85) ➊ In { اِنَّ الَّذِيْ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْاٰنَ …: ’’ مَعَادٍ ‘‘}, the tanween is for magnification, therefore the translation is made as "the place of return of great glory." By making the Qur’an obligatory is meant the obligation to act upon it, to convey it to all the people of the world, and to strive (jihad) for it.
➋ {لَرَآدُّكَ اِلٰى مَعَادٍ :} Previously it was said: {’’ وَ الْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِيْنَ ‘‘} Now, for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the mention of this good outcome is made, and the surah ends with magnificent glad tidings, that is, the Allah who has imposed upon you the obligation of acting upon the Qur’an and inviting towards it, He is the One who will bring you to a magnificent end as a result of your effort, toil, and fulfillment of duty, both in this world and in the Hereafter. In this world, in such a way that you will migrate from this city of Makkah and then return to it again, and you will return in such a splendid manner that the entire Arabian Peninsula will be under your control. As narrated in Sahih Bukhari (4773) from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), that by {’’ مَعَادٍ ‘‘} is meant Makkah Mukarramah. Thus, in the eighth year after Hijrah, this promise of Allah was fulfilled and you entered Makkah Mukarramah in a victorious manner, and in the Hereafter, He will bring you to the magnificent station of praise (maqam mahmud), due to which all the former and latter people will admire you. It is called {’’ مَعَادٍ ‘‘} because in the Noble Qur’an, the Hereafter is declared as the place of return for everyone, as He said: «{ وَ اتَّقُوْا يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُوْنَ فِيْهِ اِلَى اللّٰهِ }» [ البقرۃ : ۲۸۱ ] “And fear the Day when you will be returned to Allah.” And He said: «{ ثُمَّ اِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُوْنَ }» [ البقرۃ : ۲۸ ] “Then you will be returned to Him.” And He said: «{ اِلَى اللّٰهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ }» [ المائدۃ : ۴۸ ] “To Allah is the return of all of you.” Some of the commentators have taken {’’ مَعَادٍ ‘‘} to mean Makkah and some have taken it to mean Paradise; both views are correct in their own place.
➌ { قُلْ رَّبِّيْۤ اَعْلَمُ مَنْ جَآءَ بِالْهُدٰى … :} This prophecy, that your Lord will return you to this very Makkah in a victorious manner, was, in the eyes of the disbelievers, something that only a misguided person could say. Therefore, Allah Almighty has already given the answer to what would come from their side, that you should say to them: My Lord knows best who has come with guidance and who is in clear misguidance, and soon this reality will become clear to you.
➋ {لَرَآدُّكَ اِلٰى مَعَادٍ :} Previously it was said: {’’ وَ الْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِيْنَ ‘‘} Now, for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the mention of this good outcome is made, and the surah ends with magnificent glad tidings, that is, the Allah who has imposed upon you the obligation of acting upon the Qur’an and inviting towards it, He is the One who will bring you to a magnificent end as a result of your effort, toil, and fulfillment of duty, both in this world and in the Hereafter. In this world, in such a way that you will migrate from this city of Makkah and then return to it again, and you will return in such a splendid manner that the entire Arabian Peninsula will be under your control. As narrated in Sahih Bukhari (4773) from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), that by {’’ مَعَادٍ ‘‘} is meant Makkah Mukarramah. Thus, in the eighth year after Hijrah, this promise of Allah was fulfilled and you entered Makkah Mukarramah in a victorious manner, and in the Hereafter, He will bring you to the magnificent station of praise (maqam mahmud), due to which all the former and latter people will admire you. It is called {’’ مَعَادٍ ‘‘} because in the Noble Qur’an, the Hereafter is declared as the place of return for everyone, as He said: «{ وَ اتَّقُوْا يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُوْنَ فِيْهِ اِلَى اللّٰهِ }» [ البقرۃ : ۲۸۱ ] “And fear the Day when you will be returned to Allah.” And He said: «{ ثُمَّ اِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُوْنَ }» [ البقرۃ : ۲۸ ] “Then you will be returned to Him.” And He said: «{ اِلَى اللّٰهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ }» [ المائدۃ : ۴۸ ] “To Allah is the return of all of you.” Some of the commentators have taken {’’ مَعَادٍ ‘‘} to mean Makkah and some have taken it to mean Paradise; both views are correct in their own place.
➌ { قُلْ رَّبِّيْۤ اَعْلَمُ مَنْ جَآءَ بِالْهُدٰى … :} This prophecy, that your Lord will return you to this very Makkah in a victorious manner, was, in the eyes of the disbelievers, something that only a misguided person could say. Therefore, Allah Almighty has already given the answer to what would come from their side, that you should say to them: My Lord knows best who has come with guidance and who is in clear misguidance, and soon this reality will become clear to you.
