سُوْرَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ
Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 15
فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا۟ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ ﴿15﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
As for ‘Âd, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said: "Who is mightier than us in strength?" See they not that Allâh, Who created them was mightier in strength than them. And they used to deny Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.)!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَأَمَّا
fa-ammā
Then as for
عَادٌۭ
ʿādun
Aad
فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟
fa-is'takbarū
they were arrogant
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
بِغَيْرِ
bighayri
without
ٱلْحَقِّ
l-ḥaqi
[the] right
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
and they said
مَنْ
man
Who
أَشَدُّ
ashaddu
(is) mightier
مِنَّا
minnā
than us
قُوَّةً ۖ
quwwatan
(in) strength
أَوَلَمْ
awalam
Do not
يَرَوْا۟
yaraw
they see
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
the One Who
خَلَقَهُمْ
khalaqahum
created them
هُوَ
huwa
He
أَشَدُّ
ashaddu
(is) Mightier
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
than them
قُوَّةًۭ ۖ
quwwatan
(in) strength
وَكَانُوا۟
wakānū
But they used to
بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا
biāyātinā
in Our Signs
يَجْحَدُونَ
yajḥadūna
deny
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 15) ➊ {فَاَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوْا۠ فِي الْاَرْضِ … :} Allah Almighty granted the people of ‘Ad such tall stature, physical strength, and means of worldly advancement that, according to His command, no nation like them was ever created. He said: « اَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ۪ (6) اِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ۪ (7) الَّتِيْ لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِي الْبِلَادِ » [ الفجر : ۶ تا ۸ ] “Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with ‘Ad? (That ‘Ad) who were of Iram (the tribe’s people), possessors of lofty pillars. Those the like of whom were not created in the cities.” And He said: « اَتَبْنُوْنَ بِكُلِّ رِيْعٍ اٰيَةً تَعْبَثُوْنَ (128) وَ تَتَّخِذُوْنَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُوْنَ (129) وَ اِذَا بَطَشْتُمْ بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِيْنَ » [الشعراء : ۱۲۸ تا ۱۳۰ ] “Do you build a monument on every high place, while you engage in vain deeds? And you construct strong buildings, as if you will live forever. And when you seize, you seize as tyrants.” When Hud (peace be upon him) invited them to monotheism, they denied him, even though they knew he was a true Messenger of Allah, merely out of pride and the assumption of their own leadership, because accepting him as a Messenger would require them to obey him, which they were not willing to do.
➋ { وَ قَالُوْا مَنْ اَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً:} When Hud (peace be upon him) warned them of Allah’s punishment, they said, “Who is mightier than us in strength, that we should fear?” “We can avert any punishment that comes.” Even today, atheists say about heavenly calamities that they will confront them. Shah Abdul Qadir writes: “Their bodies were very large, and they became proud of their physical strength; boasting in pride brings disaster in the sight of Allah.” (Mawaddih)
➌ {اَوَ لَمْ يَرَوْا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُمْ … : ’’ اَوَ لَمْ يَرَوْا ‘‘} means {’’أَوَ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوْا‘‘}, this is knowledge-based seeing. That is, did they not know that, however strong they may be, they cannot be mightier than Allah who created them? Certainly, they knew this; the question is rhetorical.
➍ {وَ كَانُوْا بِاٰيٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُوْنَ: ’’جُحُوْدٌ‘‘} means “to deny knowingly.” That is, in their hearts they understood the truth, but out of stubbornness and hostility, they kept denying it. “Signs” refers to the verses revealed to the Prophets, their miracles, and the countless signs of Allah’s oneness and power spread throughout the universe.
➋ { وَ قَالُوْا مَنْ اَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً:} When Hud (peace be upon him) warned them of Allah’s punishment, they said, “Who is mightier than us in strength, that we should fear?” “We can avert any punishment that comes.” Even today, atheists say about heavenly calamities that they will confront them. Shah Abdul Qadir writes: “Their bodies were very large, and they became proud of their physical strength; boasting in pride brings disaster in the sight of Allah.” (Mawaddih)
➌ {اَوَ لَمْ يَرَوْا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُمْ … : ’’ اَوَ لَمْ يَرَوْا ‘‘} means {’’أَوَ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوْا‘‘}, this is knowledge-based seeing. That is, did they not know that, however strong they may be, they cannot be mightier than Allah who created them? Certainly, they knew this; the question is rhetorical.
➍ {وَ كَانُوْا بِاٰيٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُوْنَ: ’’جُحُوْدٌ‘‘} means “to deny knowingly.” That is, in their hearts they understood the truth, but out of stubbornness and hostility, they kept denying it. “Signs” refers to the verses revealed to the Prophets, their miracles, and the countless signs of Allah’s oneness and power spread throughout the universe.
