سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 58
أَوْ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى ٱلْعَذَابَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى كَرَّةً فَأَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿58﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: "If only I had another chance (to return to the world), then I should indeed be among the Muhsinûn (good-doers - See V.2:112)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوْ
aw
Or
تَقُولَ
taqūla
it should say
حِينَ
ḥīna
when
تَرَى
tarā
it sees
ٱلْعَذَابَ
l-ʿadhāba
the punishment
لَوْ
law
If
أَنَّ
anna
only
لِى
lī
for me
كَرَّةًۭ
karratan
another chance
فَأَكُونَ
fa-akūna
then I could be
مِنَ
mina
among
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
the good-doers
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 58) {اَوْ تَقُوْلَ حِيْنَ تَرَى الْعَذَابَ …:} In the context of the previous verse, the disbelievers’ lie about Allah was mentioned, that He did not guide them. In this verse, another of their lies is mentioned: that He did not give them time to become righteous, and that if they were sent back again, they would be among those who do righteous deeds. Thus, upon seeing the punishment, they will make a futile wish to return to the world once more. (See Al-An’am: 27, 28) Tabari has narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) with an authentic chain via Ali bin Abi Talhah, that he said: “Allah Almighty has informed beforehand what the servants are going to say before they say it, and (in the case of being sent back to the world) He has informed beforehand what they are going to do before they do it, and He said: « وَ لَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيْرٍ » [ فاطر : ۱۴ ] ‘And none will inform you like one who is All-Aware.’ That is, they will say {’’يٰحَسْرَتٰى عَلٰى مَا فَرَّطْتُّ فِيْ جَنْۢبِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} or they will say {’’ لَوْ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ هَدٰىنِيْ لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِيْنَ ‘‘} or they will say {’’ لَوْ اَنَّ لِيْ كَرَّةً فَاَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِيْنَ ‘‘ ’’ الْمُحْسِنِيْنَ ‘‘} by which is meant {’’اَلْمُهْتَدِيْنَ‘‘} that is, the guided people. So Allah Almighty has already informed that if they are sent back again, they will still not be guided, as He said: «وَ لَوْ رُدُّوْا لَعَادُوْا لِمَا نُهُوْا عَنْهُ وَ اِنَّهُمْ لَكٰذِبُوْنَ » [ الأنعام : ۲۸ ] ‘And if they were returned, they would surely return to that which they were forbidden, and indeed, they are liars.’ And He said: « وَ نُقَلِّبُ اَفْـِٕدَتَهُمْ وَ اَبْصَارَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوْا بِهٖۤ اَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ » [ الأنعام : ۱۱۰ ] ‘And We will turn away their hearts and their eyes just as they refused to believe in it the first time.’ That is, just as they did not believe the first time, if they are sent back to the world again, a barrier will remain between them and guidance, just as it remained the first time when they were in the world.”
