سُوْرَةُ فَاطِرٍ
Surah Faatir (35) — Ayah 41
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا ۚ وَلَئِن زَالَتَآ إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا ﴿41﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily! Allâh grasps the heavens and the earth lest they should move away from their places, and if they were to move away from their places, there is not one that could grasp them after Him. Truly, He is Ever Most Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
يُمْسِكُ
yum'siku
upholds
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضَ
wal-arḍa
and the earth
أَن
an
lest
تَزُولَا ۚ
tazūlā
they cease
وَلَئِن
wala-in
And if
زَالَتَآ
zālatā
they should cease
إِنْ
in
not
أَمْسَكَهُمَا
amsakahumā
can uphold them
مِنْ
min
any
أَحَدٍۢ
aḥadin
one
مِّنۢ
min
after Him
بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ
baʿdihi
after Him
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
كَانَ
kāna
is
حَلِيمًا
ḥalīman
Most Forbearing
غَفُورًۭا
ghafūran
Oft-Forgiving
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 41) ➊ {اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ اَنْ تَزُوْلَا…:} That is, the state of the partners you have made is such that neither have they created the earth or anything in it, nor do they have any share in the heavens; those helpless ones cannot even manage themselves, whereas Allah, Glorious is He, is the One who created the entire universe and He alone is running its system. He alone has held these magnificent heavens and the earth in their respective places so that they do not move from their positions due to any earthquake or accident, and if they were to move from their places, there is none besides Him who could hold them. If you say that your partners cannot create, nor do they have any share in the heavens, but they hold up those who are falling, then your notion is also wrong. Holding up those who are falling is also the work of the One who has held everything in its place.
➋ {اِنَّهٗ كَانَ حَلِيْمًا غَفُوْرًا :} That is, your polytheistic statements and actions are so deserving of dreadful punishment that because of them the heavens could be torn apart, the earth split open, and the mountains collapse upon you, as He said: « تَكَادُ السَّمٰوٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَ تَنْشَقُّ الْاَرْضُ وَ تَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا (90) اَنْ دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمٰنِ وَلَدًا» [ مریم : ۹۰، ۹۱ ] "The heavens are almost torn apart from it, and the earth split asunder, and the mountains fall down in collapse, that they ascribe a son to the Most Merciful." But Allah Almighty has prevented the heavens and the earth from falling, because He is extremely forbearing, and so He keeps granting respite upon respite; He is exceedingly forgiving, and whoever takes advantage of His forbearance and repents, He forgives all his sins. Another meaning of the verse could be that these polytheists, because of their polytheism and disobedience, have become deserving that the heavens be brought down upon them and the earth split open to destroy and ruin them, but Allah Almighty, due to His forbearance and forgiveness, is holding the heavens and the earth, and if they were to move from their places, there is no power besides Him that could hold them.
➋ {اِنَّهٗ كَانَ حَلِيْمًا غَفُوْرًا :} That is, your polytheistic statements and actions are so deserving of dreadful punishment that because of them the heavens could be torn apart, the earth split open, and the mountains collapse upon you, as He said: « تَكَادُ السَّمٰوٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَ تَنْشَقُّ الْاَرْضُ وَ تَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا (90) اَنْ دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمٰنِ وَلَدًا» [ مریم : ۹۰، ۹۱ ] "The heavens are almost torn apart from it, and the earth split asunder, and the mountains fall down in collapse, that they ascribe a son to the Most Merciful." But Allah Almighty has prevented the heavens and the earth from falling, because He is extremely forbearing, and so He keeps granting respite upon respite; He is exceedingly forgiving, and whoever takes advantage of His forbearance and repents, He forgives all his sins. Another meaning of the verse could be that these polytheists, because of their polytheism and disobedience, have become deserving that the heavens be brought down upon them and the earth split open to destroy and ruin them, but Allah Almighty, due to His forbearance and forgiveness, is holding the heavens and the earth, and if they were to move from their places, there is no power besides Him that could hold them.
