سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 50
قُلْ إِن ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَآ أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِى ۖ وَإِنِ ٱهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِىٓ إِلَىَّ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ ﴿50﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say: "If (even) I go astray, I shall stray only to my own loss. But if I remain guided, it is because of the Revelation of my Lord to me. Truly, He is All-Hearer, Ever Near (to all things)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلْ
qul
Say
إِن
in
If
ضَلَلْتُ
ḍalaltu
I err
فَإِنَّمَآ
fa-innamā
then only
أَضِلُّ
aḍillu
I will err
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
against
نَفْسِى ۖ
nafsī
myself
وَإِنِ
wa-ini
But if
ٱهْتَدَيْتُ
ih'tadaytu
I am guided
فَبِمَا
fabimā
then it is by what
يُوحِىٓ
yūḥī
reveals
إِلَىَّ
ilayya
to me
رَبِّىٓ ۚ
rabbī
my Lord
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
سَمِيعٌۭ
samīʿun
(is) All-Hearer
قَرِيبٌۭ
qarībun
Ever-Near
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 50) ➊ { قُلْ اِنْ ضَلَلْتُ فَاِنَّمَاۤ اَضِلُّ عَلٰى نَفْسِيْ :} This is the fifth instruction: tell them for their understanding that if I have gone astray because I abandoned your idols and the religion of your forefathers, as you keep saying about me, then the burden of this misguidance will fall upon me alone; you bear no responsibility for it. And if I am rightly guided, as is the reality, then this is not my own excellence or virtue, but rather it is because Allah Almighty has guided me. And I have clearly told you that I do not follow my own desires or anyone else, but only follow the revelation that is sent to me, as He said: «قُلْ اِنَّمَاۤ اَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوْحٰۤى اِلَيَّ مِنْ رَّبِّيْ » [ الأعراف : ۲۰۳ ] “Say, I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord.” In this verse, the etiquette is also taught that faults and mistakes should be attributed to oneself, and guidance should be attributed to Allah Almighty, because all good is in the hands of Allah Almighty, and guidance and goodness are only in the revelation sent down by Allah Almighty and the truth He has stated. Then, whoever goes astray, does so because of his own self, and whoever receives guidance, receives it from Allah, as when Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about an issue, he said: [ أَقُوْلُ فِيْهَا بِرَأْيِيْ، فَإِنْ يَّكُ خَطَأً فَمِنِّيْ وَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَ إِنْ يَّكُ صَوَابًا، فَمِنَ اللّٰهِ ] [ مسند أحمد : 279/4، ح : ۱۸۴۸۹ ] “I say about it according to my opinion; if it is mistaken, then it is from myself and from Satan, and if it is correct, then it is from Allah Almighty.”
➋ {اِنَّهٗ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ :} Abu Musa Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and when we would reach the heights of a valley, we would say “La ilaha illallah” and “Allahu Akbar,” and our voices would become loud. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! ارْبَعُوْا عَلٰی أَنْفُسِكُمْ، فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَدْعُوْنَ أَصَمَّ وَ لَا غَائِبًا، إِنَّهُ مَعَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ، تَبَارَكَ اسْمُهُ وَ تَعَالٰی جَدُّهُ ] [ بخاري، الجہاد والسیر، باب ما یکرہ من رفع الصوت في التکبیر : ۲۹۹۲ ] “People! Be gentle with yourselves, for you are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent; He is with you, indeed He is All-Hearing, Near. His name is very blessed and His majesty is very high.”
➋ {اِنَّهٗ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ :} Abu Musa Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and when we would reach the heights of a valley, we would say “La ilaha illallah” and “Allahu Akbar,” and our voices would become loud. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! ارْبَعُوْا عَلٰی أَنْفُسِكُمْ، فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَدْعُوْنَ أَصَمَّ وَ لَا غَائِبًا، إِنَّهُ مَعَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ، تَبَارَكَ اسْمُهُ وَ تَعَالٰی جَدُّهُ ] [ بخاري، الجہاد والسیر، باب ما یکرہ من رفع الصوت في التکبیر : ۲۹۹۲ ] “People! Be gentle with yourselves, for you are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent; He is with you, indeed He is All-Hearing, Near. His name is very blessed and His majesty is very high.”
