سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 56
أَن تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَـٰحَسْرَتَىٰ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِى جَنۢبِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ ٱلسَّـٰخِرِينَ ﴿56﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Lest a person should say: "Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allâh (i.e. I have not done what Allâh has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), the Qur’ân, and Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and at the faithful believers]
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَن
an
Lest
تَقُولَ
taqūla
should say
نَفْسٌۭ
nafsun
a soul
يَـٰحَسْرَتَىٰ
yāḥasratā
Oh! My regret
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
مَا
mā
what
فَرَّطتُ
farraṭtu
I neglected
فِى
fī
in
جَنۢبِ
janbi
regard (to)
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
وَإِن
wa-in
and that
كُنتُ
kuntu
I was
لَمِنَ
lamina
surely, among
ٱلسَّـٰخِرِينَ
l-sākhirīna
the mockers
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 56) ➊ By { اَنْ تَقُوْلَ نَفْسٌ يّٰحَسْرَتٰى … : ’’ اَنْ ‘‘} is meant {’’لِئَلَّا‘‘}, as in Surah An-Nahl, Ayah (15): «وَ اَلْقٰى فِي الْاَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ اَنْ تَمِيْدَ بِكُمْ » {’’أَيْ لِئَلَّا تَمِيْدَ بِكُمْ ‘‘} “And He has placed firm mountains in the earth lest it should shake with you.” {’’يٰحَسْرَتٰى ‘‘} is originally {’’حَسْرَةٌ‘‘} annexed to the first person singular, which has been changed into “alif.” “Hasrah” means intense regret and sorrow—alas, my regret! {’’ فَرَّطْتُّ ‘‘ ’’فَرَّطَ يُفَرِّطُ تَفْرِيْطًا‘‘} means to fall short, and {’’أَفْرَطَ يُفْرِطُ إِفْرَاطًا‘‘} means to exceed. That is, lest someone should say at that time: Alas, my regret! For my falling short and disobedience that I kept committing before the Creator and Master of the entire universe, Allah Almighty, in His presence, Who is not unaware of anything.
➋ { وَ اِنْ كُنْتُ لَمِنَ السّٰخِرِيْنَ : ’’ اِنْ ‘‘} is originally {’’ إِنِّيْ‘‘}. The “noon” of {’’إِنَّ‘‘} has been made silent and its pronoun “ya” (first person singular) has been omitted. The proof of this is the “lam” that comes on {’’ لَمِنَ السّٰخِرِيْنَ ‘‘}, and indeed, I was among those who mocked. That is, alas! I did not suffice with disobedience alone, but also joined others in mocking. Obviously, mocking collectively is even greater opposition to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). This verse also makes it clear that from {’’قُلْ يٰعِبَادِيَ الَّذِيْنَ اَسْرَفُوْا ‘‘} onwards, the context is about the disbelievers, because it is they who mock Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter. No matter how sinful a believer may be, his faith does not allow him to mock.
➋ { وَ اِنْ كُنْتُ لَمِنَ السّٰخِرِيْنَ : ’’ اِنْ ‘‘} is originally {’’ إِنِّيْ‘‘}. The “noon” of {’’إِنَّ‘‘} has been made silent and its pronoun “ya” (first person singular) has been omitted. The proof of this is the “lam” that comes on {’’ لَمِنَ السّٰخِرِيْنَ ‘‘}, and indeed, I was among those who mocked. That is, alas! I did not suffice with disobedience alone, but also joined others in mocking. Obviously, mocking collectively is even greater opposition to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). This verse also makes it clear that from {’’قُلْ يٰعِبَادِيَ الَّذِيْنَ اَسْرَفُوْا ‘‘} onwards, the context is about the disbelievers, because it is they who mock Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter. No matter how sinful a believer may be, his faith does not allow him to mock.
