سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 153
يَسْـَٔلُكَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَن تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَـٰبًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ فَقَدْ سَأَلُوا۟ مُوسَىٰٓ أَكْبَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَرِنَا ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ بِظُلْمِهِمْ ۚ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ فَعَفَوْنَا عَن ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ سُلْطَـٰنًا مُّبِينًا ﴿153﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The people of the Scripture (Jews) ask you to cause a book to descend upon them from heaven. Indeed they asked Mûsâ (Moses) for even greater than that, when they said: "Show us Allâh in public," but they were struck with thunderclap and lightning for their wickedness. Then they worshipped the calf even after clear proofs, evidence, and signs had come to them. (Even) so We forgave them. And We gave Mûsâ (Moses) a clear proof of authority.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَسْـَٔلُكَ
yasaluka
Ask you
أَهْلُ
ahlu
(the) People
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ
l-kitābi
(of) the Book
أَن
an
that
تُنَزِّلَ
tunazzila
you bring down
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
to them
كِتَـٰبًۭا
kitāban
a book
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ
l-samāi
the heaven
فَقَدْ
faqad
Then indeed
سَأَلُوا۟
sa-alū
they (had) asked
مُوسَىٰٓ
mūsā
Musa
أَكْبَرَ
akbara
greater
مِن
min
than
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
فَقَالُوٓا۟
faqālū
for they said
أَرِنَا
arinā
Show us
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
جَهْرَةًۭ
jahratan
manifestly
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ
fa-akhadhathumu
so struck them
ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ
l-ṣāʿiqatu
the thunderbolt
بِظُلْمِهِمْ ۚ
biẓul'mihim
for their wrongdoing
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
ٱتَّخَذُوا۟
ittakhadhū
they took
ٱلْعِجْلَ
l-ʿij'la
the calf (for worship)
مِنۢ
min
from
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
مَا
mā
[what]
جَآءَتْهُمُ
jāathumu
came to them
ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ
l-bayinātu
the clear proofs
فَعَفَوْنَا
faʿafawnā
then We forgave them
عَن
ʿan
for
ذَٰلِكَ ۚ
dhālika
that
وَءَاتَيْنَا
waātaynā
And We gave
مُوسَىٰ
mūsā
Musa
سُلْطَـٰنًۭا
sul'ṭānan
an authority
مُّبِينًۭا
mubīnan
clear
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 153) ➊ {يَسْـَٔلُكَ اَهْلُ الْكِتٰبِ …… :} In this verse, another ignorance of the Jews is mentioned, and its purpose is to describe their rebelliousness and inherent stubbornness and hostility. (Kabir) Their intention was not to believe in you, O Prophet (peace be upon him); rather, merely out of mischief and to render you speechless, they kept raising new objections. Among these was their demand that just as Moses (peace be upon him) received tablets from Allah, you too should bring a similar book from Allah, so that we may confirm you and believe in you. In response to this objection, the Qur’an first presented their past misdeeds as a reproach (because the most effective silencing answer is a counter-argument: first look at your own house, then raise objections), and then from verse (163) «اِنَّاۤ اَوْحَيْنَاۤ اِلَيْكَ كَمَاۤ اَوْحَيْنَاۤ » gave a detailed answer to this objection. (Kabir) And this sequence of explanation continued up to verse (170). After that, from «يٰۤاَهْلَ الْكِتٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوْا فِيْ دِيْنِكُمْ», the address is to the Christians. (Fath al-Rahman)
➋ {فَقَدْ سَاَلُوْا مُوْسٰۤى اَكْبَرَ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ :} It is said (in exact accordance with your demand) that when Moses (peace be upon him) brought the Book, you made an even greater demand, that is, you said: Show us Allah clearly and openly. (See Baqarah: 55) Then you committed an even greater insolence by making the calf your deity, yet We forgave you, and despite your stubbornness, hostility, and ignorance, We granted Moses (peace be upon him) dominance and authority, and you could not oppose his command. In this verse, there is also glad tidings for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that in the end, these stubborn and hostile people will be subdued. After this, their other ignorances are mentioned. (Kabir)
➋ {فَقَدْ سَاَلُوْا مُوْسٰۤى اَكْبَرَ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ :} It is said (in exact accordance with your demand) that when Moses (peace be upon him) brought the Book, you made an even greater demand, that is, you said: Show us Allah clearly and openly. (See Baqarah: 55) Then you committed an even greater insolence by making the calf your deity, yet We forgave you, and despite your stubbornness, hostility, and ignorance, We granted Moses (peace be upon him) dominance and authority, and you could not oppose his command. In this verse, there is also glad tidings for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that in the end, these stubborn and hostile people will be subdued. After this, their other ignorances are mentioned. (Kabir)
