سُوْرَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ
Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 21
وَقَالُوا۟ لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدتُّمْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنطَقَنَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And they will say to their skins, "Why do you testify against us?" They will say: "Allâh has caused us to speak as He causes all things to speak: and He created you the first time, and to Him you are made to return."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
And they will say
لِجُلُودِهِمْ
lijulūdihim
to their skins
لِمَ
lima
Why do
شَهِدتُّمْ
shahidttum
you testify
عَلَيْنَا ۖ
ʿalaynā
against us
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They will say
أَنطَقَنَا
anṭaqanā
Allah made us speak
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah made us speak
ٱلَّذِىٓ
alladhī
the One Who
أَنطَقَ
anṭaqa
makes speak
كُلَّ
kulla
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and He
خَلَقَكُمْ
khalaqakum
created you
أَوَّلَ
awwala
(the) first
مَرَّةٍۢ
marratin
time
وَإِلَيْهِ
wa-ilayhi
and to Him
تُرْجَعُونَ
tur'jaʿūna
you will be returned
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 21) ➊ {وَ قَالُوْا لِجُلُوْدِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدْتُّمْ عَلَيْنَا:} They will not ask this from their skins to seek information, but rather as an expression of astonishment and reproach, saying: "It was for your protection that we used to lie to Allah, and now you are testifying against us."
➋ { قَالُوْۤا اَنْطَقَنَا اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْۤ اَنْطَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ:} Their limbs will respond to both their astonishment and reproach. In response to their astonishment, they will say: "Our speaking is not something astonishing; the tongue used to speak by Allah's command and by His granting of speech, and likewise, every speaking thing speaks by His command. Now He has made us speak, so what is so astonishing about that?"
➌ { وَ هُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ اَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَّ اِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُوْنَ:} This speech could be from the skins themselves, or it could be Allah addressing the deniers of the Hereafter.
➋ { قَالُوْۤا اَنْطَقَنَا اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْۤ اَنْطَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ:} Their limbs will respond to both their astonishment and reproach. In response to their astonishment, they will say: "Our speaking is not something astonishing; the tongue used to speak by Allah's command and by His granting of speech, and likewise, every speaking thing speaks by His command. Now He has made us speak, so what is so astonishing about that?"
➌ { وَ هُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ اَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَّ اِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُوْنَ:} This speech could be from the skins themselves, or it could be Allah addressing the deniers of the Hereafter.
