سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 49
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا ﴿49﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Have you not seen those (Jews and Christians) who claim sanctity for themselves. Nay, but Allâh sanctifies whom He wills, and they will not be dealt with injustice even equal to the extent of a scalish thread in the long slit of a date-stone.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلَمْ
alam
Do not
تَرَ
tara
you see
إِلَى
ilā
[towards]
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يُزَكُّونَ
yuzakkūna
claim purity
أَنفُسَهُم ۚ
anfusahum
(for) themselves
بَلِ
bali
Nay
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
(it is) Allah
يُزَكِّى
yuzakkī
He purifies
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
He wills
وَلَا
walā
and not
يُظْلَمُونَ
yuẓ'lamūna
they will be wronged
فَتِيلًا
fatīlan
(even as much as) a hair on a date-seed
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 49) {”فَتِيْلًا“} This refers to the thin thread that appears in the groove of a date seed. It is an idiom meaning that they will not be wronged in the least. (Tabari) The Jews used to call themselves pure and holy, sometimes saying, “Only we will enter Paradise: «{ لَنْ يَّدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ اِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ هُوْدًا اَوْ نَصٰرٰى }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۱۱ ] ‘None shall enter Paradise except those who are Jews or Christians.’” Sometimes they would claim to be Allah’s sons and His beloved ones. (See Ma’idah: 18) Allah Almighty refuted them, saying that declaring someone pure is Allah’s prerogative; self-praise is destructive for a person. Thus, Allah Almighty said: «{ فَلَا تُزَكُّوْۤا اَنْفُسَكُمْ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقٰى }» [ النجم : ۳۲ ] “Do not declare yourselves pure; He knows best who is God-fearing.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also forbade praising one another, especially in someone’s presence or with exaggeration. Miqdad bin Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us: [ أَنْ نَحْثِيَ فِيْ وُجُوْهِ الْمَدَّاحِيْنَ التُّرَابَ ] [ مسلم، الزھد، باب النھی عن المدح… : ۳۰۰۲ ] “Throw dust in the faces of those who excessively praise others.” And he said: [ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالتَّمَادُحَ فَإِنَّهُ ذَبْحٌ ] [ ابن ماجہ، الأدب، باب المدح : ۳۷۴۳ ] “Beware of mutual praise, for it is slaughter.” In one hadith, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) heard a man praising another and said: [ وَيْحَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ ] “Woe to you! You have cut your companion’s neck.” Then he said: “If any of you must praise someone, let him say, ‘I think him to be such and such,’ and do not declare anyone pure before Allah.” [ بخاری، الأدب، باب ما یکرہ من التمادح : ۶۰۶۱ ]
