سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 49
قُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَمَا يُبْدِئُ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ وَمَا يُعِيدُ ﴿49﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "Al-Haqq (the truth i.e. the Qur’ân and Allâh’s Revelation) has come, and Al-Bâtil [falsehood - Iblîs (Satan)] can neither create anything nor resurrect (anything)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلْ
qul
Say
جَآءَ
jāa
Has come
ٱلْحَقُّ
l-ḥaqu
the truth
وَمَا
wamā
and not
يُبْدِئُ
yub'di-u
(can) originate
ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ
l-bāṭilu
the falsehood
وَمَا
wamā
and not
يُعِيدُ
yuʿīdu
repeat
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 49) ➊ { قُلْ جَآءَ الْحَقُّ :} This is the fourth instruction: make it clear to them that their falsehood will soon be eliminated and not a trace of it will remain. Elsewhere it is said: «وَ قُلْ جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَ زَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ اِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوْقًا» [ بني إسرائیل : ۸۱ ] "And say: The truth has come and falsehood has vanished; surely falsehood is ever bound to vanish."
➋ { وَ مَا يُبْدِئُ الْبَاطِلُ وَ مَا يُعِيْدُ : ’’أَبْدَأَ يُبْدِءُ إِبْدَاءً‘‘} (From the verb form if‘āl) To do something initially, and "i‘adah" means to do it again. Every living person is not free from these two: either he does something for the first time or repeats it; however, the dead cannot do any of these. This is a saying that the Arabs use when a person or nation is completely annihilated: {’’إِنَّهُ مَا يُبْدِئُ وَمَا يُعِيْدُ‘‘} meaning he was completely wiped out, not even a trace remained.
➌ This prophecy was fulfilled shortly after the revelation of this verse. Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered Makkah and there were three hundred and sixty idols placed around the Ka‘bah. The Prophet would strike each idol with a stick that was in his hand and say: «جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَ زَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ اِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوْقًا » and «جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَ مَا يُبْدِئُ الْبَاطِلُ وَ مَا يُعِيْدُ » [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب : «و قل جاء الحق و زھق الباطل » : ۴۷۲۰ ]
➋ { وَ مَا يُبْدِئُ الْبَاطِلُ وَ مَا يُعِيْدُ : ’’أَبْدَأَ يُبْدِءُ إِبْدَاءً‘‘} (From the verb form if‘āl) To do something initially, and "i‘adah" means to do it again. Every living person is not free from these two: either he does something for the first time or repeats it; however, the dead cannot do any of these. This is a saying that the Arabs use when a person or nation is completely annihilated: {’’إِنَّهُ مَا يُبْدِئُ وَمَا يُعِيْدُ‘‘} meaning he was completely wiped out, not even a trace remained.
➌ This prophecy was fulfilled shortly after the revelation of this verse. Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered Makkah and there were three hundred and sixty idols placed around the Ka‘bah. The Prophet would strike each idol with a stick that was in his hand and say: «جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَ زَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ اِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوْقًا » and «جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَ مَا يُبْدِئُ الْبَاطِلُ وَ مَا يُعِيْدُ » [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب : «و قل جاء الحق و زھق الباطل » : ۴۷۲۰ ]
