سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 160
فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا ﴿160﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
For the wrong-doing of the Jews, We made unlawful for them certain good foods which had been lawful for them - and for their hindering many from Allâh’s Way;
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَبِظُلْمٍۢ
fabiẓul'min
Then for (the) wrongdoing
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
هَادُوا۟
hādū
were Jews
حَرَّمْنَا
ḥarramnā
We made unlawful
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
for them
طَيِّبَـٰتٍ
ṭayyibātin
good things
أُحِلَّتْ
uḥillat
which had been lawful
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
وَبِصَدِّهِمْ
wabiṣaddihim
and for their hindering
عَن
ʿan
from
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
كَثِيرًۭا
kathīran
many
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 160)➊ In {فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ الَّذِيْنَ هَادُوْا: ”فَبِظُلْمٍ“ }, the tanween is for magnification, and because the jar majroor comes first, it creates specification; therefore, the translation is "because of their great wrongdoing."
➋ After mentioning the rebellion and mischief of the Jews, now their punishment is mentioned. (Kabir)
➌ The prohibition of pure things in {حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبٰتٍ اُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ ……:} was partly from Allah due to their rebellion, because they were very bold in sinning, so that their rebellion would be somewhat broken; this was a legal prohibition, as in Surah Al-An'am (146). And some things they made unlawful by giving their priests and monks the authority to declare lawful and unlawful, so these became unlawful as a punishment for their great wrongdoing of shirk (making priests and monks as lords) in Allah's decree, just as some among the Muslims have also declared many lawful things unlawful and many unlawful things lawful on the word of their imams.
➍ Shah Waliullah (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned another fine point, that here {”طَيِّبٰتٍ“} refers to the suspension of those favors which were in the form of kingship, prophethood, and help, as Allah said: «وَ ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَ الْمَسْكَنَةُ » [البقرۃ : ۶۱ ] "And humiliation and poverty were imposed upon them." (Fathur Rahman) In reality, all three meanings can be intended.
➋ After mentioning the rebellion and mischief of the Jews, now their punishment is mentioned. (Kabir)
➌ The prohibition of pure things in {حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبٰتٍ اُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ ……:} was partly from Allah due to their rebellion, because they were very bold in sinning, so that their rebellion would be somewhat broken; this was a legal prohibition, as in Surah Al-An'am (146). And some things they made unlawful by giving their priests and monks the authority to declare lawful and unlawful, so these became unlawful as a punishment for their great wrongdoing of shirk (making priests and monks as lords) in Allah's decree, just as some among the Muslims have also declared many lawful things unlawful and many unlawful things lawful on the word of their imams.
➍ Shah Waliullah (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned another fine point, that here {”طَيِّبٰتٍ“} refers to the suspension of those favors which were in the form of kingship, prophethood, and help, as Allah said: «وَ ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَ الْمَسْكَنَةُ » [البقرۃ : ۶۱ ] "And humiliation and poverty were imposed upon them." (Fathur Rahman) In reality, all three meanings can be intended.
