سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 47
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِهَآ أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلسَّبْتِ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا ﴿47﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed (to Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) confirming what is (already) with you, before We efface faces (by making them like the back of necks; without nose, mouth) and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers. And the Commandment of Allâh is always executed.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
أُوتُوا۟
ūtū
(have) been given
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Book
ءَامِنُوا۟
āminū
believe
بِمَا
bimā
in what
نَزَّلْنَا
nazzalnā
We (have) revealed
مُصَدِّقًۭا
muṣaddiqan
confirming
لِّمَا
limā
what is
مَعَكُم
maʿakum
with you
مِّن
min
from
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
أَن
an
[that]
نَّطْمِسَ
naṭmisa
We efface
وُجُوهًۭا
wujūhan
faces
فَنَرُدَّهَا
fanaruddahā
and turn them
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
on
أَدْبَارِهَآ
adbārihā
their backs
أَوْ
aw
or
نَلْعَنَهُمْ
nalʿanahum
We curse them
كَمَا
kamā
as
لَعَنَّآ
laʿannā
We cursed
أَصْحَـٰبَ
aṣḥāba
companions
ٱلسَّبْتِ ۚ
l-sabti
(of) the Sabbath
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And is
أَمْرُ
amru
(the) command
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
مَفْعُولًا
mafʿūlan
(always) executed
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 47) { يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ … :} After mentioning the mischief of the Jews, in this verse they are now invited to faith and warned for stubbornly not carrying out the commands of Allah, because the Jews were scholars and, despite knowledge and understanding, were acting stubbornly. (Razi) This warning either relates to the Day of Resurrection, or it means the disfigurement of faces in this world, and by the curse like the people of the Sabbath is meant that just as they were turned into monkeys and pigs, you too may be made the same. For the story of the people of the Sabbath, see Surah Al-A'raf (163). At this time, whether Jew, Christian, or Muslim, all are the Ummah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); those who recite the kalimah are the Ummah of acceptance, i.e., those who have accepted, and the others are the Ummah of invitation, i.e., those who are addressed by his invitation. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ مَسْخٌ وَ خَسْفٌ وَ قَذْفٌ ] [ ابن ماجہ، الفتن، باب الخسوف : ۴۰۵۹، عن ابن مسعود رضی اللہ عنہ ۔ صحیح الجامع للألبانی : ۲۸۵۶ ] "Before the Day of Resurrection, there will be incidents of faces being changed, the earth swallowing people, and stones raining down." And Sahl bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ سَيَكُوْنُ فِيْ آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ خَسْفٌ وَ قَذْفٌ وَ مَسْخٌ، قِيْلَ وَ مَتٰي ذٰلِكَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ !؟ قَالَ إِذَا ظَهَرَتِ الْمَعَازِفُ وَالْقَيْنَاتُ وَاسْتُحِلَّتِ الْخَمْرُ ] [ المعجم الکبیر : ۶؍۱۵۰، ح : ۵۸۱۰۔ صحیح الجامع للألبانی : ۳۶۶۵ ] "In the last times, there will be swallowing by the earth, stones raining down, and faces being changed." It was asked: "O Messenger of Allah! When will this happen?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When musical instruments and female singers become common and wine is made lawful." Even now, the People of the Book and the Muslims who follow their ways should fear these punishments and repent.
