سُوْرَةُ السَّجْدَةِ
Surah As-Sajda (32) — Ayah 21
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities, etc.) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islâm).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم
walanudhīqannahum
And surely, We will let them taste
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْعَذَابِ
l-ʿadhābi
the punishment
ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ
l-adnā
the nearer
دُونَ
dūna
before
ٱلْعَذَابِ
l-ʿadhābi
the punishment
ٱلْأَكْبَرِ
l-akbari
the greater
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَرْجِعُونَ
yarjiʿūna
return
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 21) {وَ لَنُذِيْقَنَّهُمْ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الْاَدْنٰى … :} That is, before that greater punishment which has just been mentioned, We will surely make them taste a lesser punishment, so that they may turn back. The meaning is the punishment of this world before the punishment of the Hereafter, as Tabari has narrated with an authentic chain from Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): "By this is meant the calamities, illnesses, and trials of this world in which Allah puts His servants, so that they may repent." Elsewhere Allah has said: «{ اَوَ لَا يَرَوْنَ اَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُوْنَ فِيْ كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً اَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوْبُوْنَ وَ لَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُوْنَ }» [ التوبۃ : ۱۲۶ ] "And do they not see that they are tried once or twice every year, yet they neither repent nor do they take heed." And He said: «{ ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ اَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيْقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِيْ عَمِلُوْا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُوْنَ }» [ الروم : ۴۱ ] "Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned, so that He may let them taste some of what they have done, so that they may turn back." For the disbelievers of Makkah, this also refers to the killing they faced in the Battle of Badr and the famine that was imposed upon them due to the curse of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Some commentators have taken {’’ الْعَذَابِ الْاَدْنٰى ‘‘} to mean the punishment of the grave, but the last words of the verse {’’ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُوْنَ ‘‘} (so that they may return) show that this interpretation is not correct, because after the punishment of the grave there is no opportunity for repentance or turning back.
