سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ
Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 83
فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَرِحُوا۟ بِمَا عِندَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ ﴿83﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then when their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were glad (and proud) with that which they had of the knowledge (of worldly things). And that at which they used to mock, surrounded them (i.e. the punishment).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
جَآءَتْهُمْ
jāathum
came to them
رُسُلُهُم
rusuluhum
their Messengers
بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ
bil-bayināti
with clear proofs
فَرِحُوا۟
fariḥū
they rejoiced
بِمَا
bimā
in what
عِندَهُم
ʿindahum
they had
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْعِلْمِ
l-ʿil'mi
the knowledge
وَحَاقَ
waḥāqa
and enveloped
بِهِم
bihim
them
مَّا
mā
what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used to
بِهِۦ
bihi
[at it]
يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
yastahziūna
mock
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 83) ➊ In { فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ … : ’’ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ‘‘}, {’’ مِنْ ‘‘} is for partition, meaning that small portion of knowledge which they possessed. This knowledge can refer to two things: first, those beliefs and customs about Allah Almighty which their philosophers or religious leaders had fabricated, whose foundation was based on associating partners with Allah Almighty, just as the Greeks and Hindus had a system based on gods and goddesses, and just as the idol-worshipping nations of Noah, Hud, Salih, Ibrahim, and other noble prophets (peace be upon them) had beliefs, which they considered knowledge, although it was sheer ignorance. Thus, when their messengers came to them with the clear beliefs of monotheism and the Hereafter, granted by Allah Almighty Himself, and with bright proofs of their truth, they considered the beliefs and customs fabricated by human minds to be superior knowledge, and they boasted and were arrogant about them, and they rejected the clear beliefs and their bright proofs that came from Allah Almighty.
The second meaning of {’’ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ‘‘} is worldly knowledge and skill, in which they were proficient, which in reality is a small and insignificant portion of knowledge, because it is related only to a few days or moments of this transient world. They were completely deprived of the real and eternal knowledge, that is, the knowledge of the Hereafter. (See: Ar-Rum: 6, 7) Thus, instead of believing in and obeying the arrival of the messengers, they boasted and were arrogant about that insignificant worldly knowledge which they possessed and which they considered a great thing. This meaning is closer to the words.
➋ { وَ حَاقَ بِهِمْ مَّا كَانُوْا بِهٖ يَسْتَهْزِءُوْنَ:} means that the very punishment surrounded them from all sides, the same punishment with which the messengers used to warn them, but they used to mock it and demand its immediate arrival.
The second meaning of {’’ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ‘‘} is worldly knowledge and skill, in which they were proficient, which in reality is a small and insignificant portion of knowledge, because it is related only to a few days or moments of this transient world. They were completely deprived of the real and eternal knowledge, that is, the knowledge of the Hereafter. (See: Ar-Rum: 6, 7) Thus, instead of believing in and obeying the arrival of the messengers, they boasted and were arrogant about that insignificant worldly knowledge which they possessed and which they considered a great thing. This meaning is closer to the words.
➋ { وَ حَاقَ بِهِمْ مَّا كَانُوْا بِهٖ يَسْتَهْزِءُوْنَ:} means that the very punishment surrounded them from all sides, the same punishment with which the messengers used to warn them, but they used to mock it and demand its immediate arrival.
