سُوْرَةُ السَّجْدَةِ
Surah As-Sajda (32) — Ayah 12
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُوا۟ رُءُوسِهِمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَآ أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَٱرْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if you only could see when the Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) shall hang their heads before their Lord (saying): "Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back (to the world), that we will do righteous good deeds. Verily! We now believe with certainty."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
تَرَىٰٓ
tarā
you (could) see
إِذِ
idhi
when
ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
l-muj'rimūna
the criminals
نَاكِسُوا۟
nākisū
(will) hang
رُءُوسِهِمْ
ruūsihim
their heads
عِندَ
ʿinda
before
رَبِّهِمْ
rabbihim
their Lord
رَبَّنَآ
rabbanā
Our Lord
أَبْصَرْنَا
abṣarnā
we have seen
وَسَمِعْنَا
wasamiʿ'nā
and we have heard
فَٱرْجِعْنَا
fa-ir'jiʿ'nā
so return us
نَعْمَلْ
naʿmal
we will do
صَـٰلِحًا
ṣāliḥan
righteous (deeds)
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, we
مُوقِنُونَ
mūqinūna
(are now) certain
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 12) ➊ { وَ لَوْ تَرٰۤى اِذِ الْمُجْرِمُوْنَ نَاكِسُوْا رُءُوْسِهِمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ:} In the previous verse, where it was said {’’ ثُمَّ اِلٰى رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُوْنَ ‘‘} (then you will be returned to your Lord), now the scene of that state is being presented. The meaning of {’’نَكَسَ يَنْكُسُ‘‘} (n) is to turn something upside down on its head, meaning to bow heads with humiliation, shame, and sorrow. With the word {’’ الْمُجْرِمُوْنَ ‘‘}, the reason for their end is explicitly stated.
➋ {رَبَّنَاۤ اَبْصَرْنَا وَ سَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا :} Here, the word {’’يَقُوْلُوْنَ‘‘} is implied, meaning they will be saying this with bowed heads. Elsewhere, Allah Almighty has stated that even if they are sent back again, they will continue on their old path. He said: «{ وَ لَوْ تَرٰۤى اِذْ وُقِفُوْا عَلَى النَّارِ فَقَالُوْا يٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَ لَا نُكَذِّبَ بِاٰيٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَ نَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ (27) بَلْ بَدَا لَهُمْ مَّا كَانُوْا يُخْفُوْنَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ لَوْ رُدُّوْا لَعَادُوْا لِمَا نُهُوْا عَنْهُ وَ اِنَّهُمْ لَكٰذِبُوْنَ }» [ الأنعام : ۲۷، ۲۸ ] "And if only you could see when they will be made to stand before the Fire, they will say, 'Oh, would that we were sent back and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers.' But what they used to conceal before has become apparent to them. And if they were sent back, they would surely return to what they were forbidden, and indeed, they are surely liars." The mention of this regret and remorse of the disbelievers has come in several verses. See Surah Al-A'raf (53) and Al-Mu’minun (99, 100).
➌ { اِنَّا مُوْقِنُوْنَ :} But what benefit is there in being certain at that time? The time when certainty would have been beneficial (i.e., in the world), they have already wasted. See Surah Al-Mu’min (85).
➋ {رَبَّنَاۤ اَبْصَرْنَا وَ سَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا :} Here, the word {’’يَقُوْلُوْنَ‘‘} is implied, meaning they will be saying this with bowed heads. Elsewhere, Allah Almighty has stated that even if they are sent back again, they will continue on their old path. He said: «{ وَ لَوْ تَرٰۤى اِذْ وُقِفُوْا عَلَى النَّارِ فَقَالُوْا يٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَ لَا نُكَذِّبَ بِاٰيٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَ نَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ (27) بَلْ بَدَا لَهُمْ مَّا كَانُوْا يُخْفُوْنَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ لَوْ رُدُّوْا لَعَادُوْا لِمَا نُهُوْا عَنْهُ وَ اِنَّهُمْ لَكٰذِبُوْنَ }» [ الأنعام : ۲۷، ۲۸ ] "And if only you could see when they will be made to stand before the Fire, they will say, 'Oh, would that we were sent back and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers.' But what they used to conceal before has become apparent to them. And if they were sent back, they would surely return to what they were forbidden, and indeed, they are surely liars." The mention of this regret and remorse of the disbelievers has come in several verses. See Surah Al-A'raf (53) and Al-Mu’minun (99, 100).
➌ { اِنَّا مُوْقِنُوْنَ :} But what benefit is there in being certain at that time? The time when certainty would have been beneficial (i.e., in the world), they have already wasted. See Surah Al-Mu’min (85).
