سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 155
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿155﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Because of their breaking the covenant, and of their rejecting the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, and of their killing the Prophets unjustly, and of their saying: "Our hearts are wrapped (with coverings, i.e. we do not understand what the Messengers say)" - nay, Allâh has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَبِمَا
fabimā
Then because of
نَقْضِهِم
naqḍihim
their breaking
مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ
mīthāqahum
(of) their covenant
وَكُفْرِهِم
wakuf'rihim
and their disbelief
بِـَٔايَـٰتِ
biāyāti
in (the) Signs
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَقَتْلِهِمُ
waqatlihimu
and their killing
ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ
l-anbiyāa
(of) the Prophets
بِغَيْرِ
bighayri
without
حَقٍّۢ
ḥaqqin
any right
وَقَوْلِهِمْ
waqawlihim
and their saying
قُلُوبُنَا
qulūbunā
Our hearts
غُلْفٌۢ ۚ
ghul'fun
(are) wrapped
بَلْ
bal
Nay
طَبَعَ
ṭabaʿa
(has) set a seal
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
عَلَيْهَا
ʿalayhā
on their (hearts)
بِكُفْرِهِمْ
bikuf'rihim
for their disbelief
فَلَا
falā
so not
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
they believe
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a few
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 155) ➊ {فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِمْ مِّيْثَاقَهُمْ :} In this, {’’مَا‘‘} has been added for emphasis, meaning solely because of their breaking of their firm covenant. Here, some words are omitted and left to the understanding of the reader of the verse. Thus, most commentators have written that those words are: { ”لَعَنَّاهُمْ“ } meaning, "We cursed them." The evidence for this is that elsewhere Allah the Exalted has said: «فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِمْ مِّيْثَاقَهُمْ لَعَنّٰهُمْ » [ المائدۃ : ۱۳ ] "Because of their breaking of their firm covenant, We cursed them." And some have said that just as Allah the Exalted has kept the matter general, it is better to keep it general, meaning solely because of their breaking of the covenant { ”فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ مَّا فَعَلْنَا“ } (We did with them what We did), that is, what We did with them is beyond your estimation.
➋ For the explanation of { ”وَ قَتْلِهِمُ الْاَنْۢبِيَآءَ۠ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ“ }, see Surah Al-Baqarah (61), and for the explanation of { ”غُلْفٌ“ }, see Surah Al-Baqarah (88).
➌ {فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا:} meaning, very few people, such as Abdullah bin Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) and his few companions. The second meaning could also be that {”قَلِيْلًا“} is an adjective of an omitted verbal noun, meaning { ”اِيْمَانًا قَلِيْلاً“ } (they will not believe except a little), that is, only in Musa (peace be upon him) and the Torah. This is said according to their assumption, otherwise, if even one prophet is denied, it is as if all are denied. (Razi)
➋ For the explanation of { ”وَ قَتْلِهِمُ الْاَنْۢبِيَآءَ۠ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ“ }, see Surah Al-Baqarah (61), and for the explanation of { ”غُلْفٌ“ }, see Surah Al-Baqarah (88).
➌ {فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا:} meaning, very few people, such as Abdullah bin Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) and his few companions. The second meaning could also be that {”قَلِيْلًا“} is an adjective of an omitted verbal noun, meaning { ”اِيْمَانًا قَلِيْلاً“ } (they will not believe except a little), that is, only in Musa (peace be upon him) and the Torah. This is said according to their assumption, otherwise, if even one prophet is denied, it is as if all are denied. (Razi)
