سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 11
أَنِ ٱعْمَلْ سَـٰبِغَـٰتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِى ٱلسَّرْدِ ۖ وَٱعْمَلُوا۟ صَـٰلِحًا ۖ إِنِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Saying: "Make you perfect coats of mail, and balance well the rings of chain armour, and work you (men) righteousness. Truly, I am All-Seer of what you do."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَنِ
ani
That
ٱعْمَلْ
iʿ'mal
make
سَـٰبِغَـٰتٍۢ
sābighātin
full coats of mail
وَقَدِّرْ
waqaddir
and measure precisely
فِى
fī
[of]
ٱلسَّرْدِ ۖ
l-sardi
the links (of armor)
وَٱعْمَلُوا۟
wa-iʿ'malū
and work
صَـٰلِحًا ۖ
ṣāliḥan
righteousness
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, I Am
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
بَصِيرٌۭ
baṣīrun
All-Seer
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 11) ➊ { اَنِ اعْمَلْ سٰبِغٰتٍ : ’’ سٰبِغٰتٍ ‘‘} complete and vast, this is an attribute of the omitted {’’دُرُوْعٌ‘‘}, meaning We said to him: prepare complete and spacious armors, which cover the entire body of the fighter properly and protect him from the enemy’s strike.
➋ {وَ قَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ : ’’ السَّرْدِ ‘‘} to sew or join something thick, like making armor, sewing leather; here it means to arrange the iron rings in order. (Mufradat) To have proportion in joining the rings means that they should not be too small or too large, nor so loose that the joints move excessively, nor so tight or the rivets so thick that a person cannot move while wearing them. Rather, every ring and every joint should fit its place on the body correctly and be arranged properly with each other.
➌ { وَ اعْمَلُوْا صَالِحًا :} In this address, the family of Dawud (David) (peace be upon him) is also included, that is why instead of {’’اِعْمَلْ‘‘}, {’’ اعْمَلُوْا ‘‘} is said.
➍ { اِنِّيْ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرٌ:} In this, there is both a promise and a warning, meaning whatever you are doing, I am watching it well; I will reward righteous deeds and punish evil deeds.
➋ {وَ قَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ : ’’ السَّرْدِ ‘‘} to sew or join something thick, like making armor, sewing leather; here it means to arrange the iron rings in order. (Mufradat) To have proportion in joining the rings means that they should not be too small or too large, nor so loose that the joints move excessively, nor so tight or the rivets so thick that a person cannot move while wearing them. Rather, every ring and every joint should fit its place on the body correctly and be arranged properly with each other.
➌ { وَ اعْمَلُوْا صَالِحًا :} In this address, the family of Dawud (David) (peace be upon him) is also included, that is why instead of {’’اِعْمَلْ‘‘}, {’’ اعْمَلُوْا ‘‘} is said.
➍ { اِنِّيْ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرٌ:} In this, there is both a promise and a warning, meaning whatever you are doing, I am watching it well; I will reward righteous deeds and punish evil deeds.
