سُوْرَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ
Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 26
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَسْمَعُوا۟ لِهَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَٱلْغَوْا۟ فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَغْلِبُونَ ﴿26﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And those who disbelieve say: "Listen not to this Qur’ân, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieve
لَا
lā
(Do) not
تَسْمَعُوا۟
tasmaʿū
listen
لِهَـٰذَا
lihādhā
to this
ٱلْقُرْءَانِ
l-qur'āni
Quran
وَٱلْغَوْا۟
wal-ghaw
and make noise
فِيهِ
fīhi
therein
لَعَلَّكُمْ
laʿallakum
so that you may
تَغْلِبُونَ
taghlibūna
overcome
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 26) ➊ { وَ قَالَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَا تَسْمَعُوْا … :} The disbelievers were aware of the effect of the Quran, that whoever listens to it without stubbornness is certainly influenced by it. Therefore, they decided neither to listen to the Quran themselves nor let anyone else listen to it. This was their clear admission of defeat; when they could not produce even a single surah like it, the truth was that they should have believed in it, but instead, they persisted in their opposition and tried in every way to prevent people from it.
➋ { لِهٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنِ:} That is, there is no restriction on reading or listening to the previous scriptures, because it does not affect us. This Quran which Muhammad (peace be upon him) has brought, do not listen to it, because it attracts hearts.
➌ { وَ الْغَوْا فِيْهِ: ’’ الْغَوْا ‘‘ ’’لَغِيَ يَلْغٰي‘‘} (S, F) To speak without thinking, to make noise. That is, if by chance you happen to hear it, then create noise in it, so that you may prevail. This shows that they admitted that if the Prophet (peace be upon him) or the Muslims succeeded in making people listen to the Quran, then they would be the ones to prevail. There is an Arabic saying: {’’ وَالْفَضْلُ مَا شَهِدَتْ بِهِ الْأَعْدَاءُ ‘‘} "The real superiority is that which is testified by the enemy." Elsewhere, Allah Almighty has said the opposite of what the disbelievers said: « وَ اِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْاٰنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوْا لَهٗ وَ اَنْصِتُوْا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ » [ الأعراف : ۲۰۴ ] "And when the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent, so that mercy may be shown to you." That is, instead of seeking fake dominance, become seekers of true mercy.
➍ This insolence of the disbelievers was not only when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) tried to make them listen to the Quran, but even when he (peace be upon him) was reciting the Quran to his companions, or when he was reciting aloud during prayer, they would start abusing and using foul language at that time as well, upon which Allah Almighty revealed this verse: « وَ لَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَ لَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَ ابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ سَبِيْلًا» [ بني إسرائیل : ۱۱۰ ] "And do not recite your prayer loudly, nor recite it in a low voice, but seek a way between." For details, see the commentary of this verse in Surah Bani Isra'il.
➋ { لِهٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنِ:} That is, there is no restriction on reading or listening to the previous scriptures, because it does not affect us. This Quran which Muhammad (peace be upon him) has brought, do not listen to it, because it attracts hearts.
➌ { وَ الْغَوْا فِيْهِ: ’’ الْغَوْا ‘‘ ’’لَغِيَ يَلْغٰي‘‘} (S, F) To speak without thinking, to make noise. That is, if by chance you happen to hear it, then create noise in it, so that you may prevail. This shows that they admitted that if the Prophet (peace be upon him) or the Muslims succeeded in making people listen to the Quran, then they would be the ones to prevail. There is an Arabic saying: {’’ وَالْفَضْلُ مَا شَهِدَتْ بِهِ الْأَعْدَاءُ ‘‘} "The real superiority is that which is testified by the enemy." Elsewhere, Allah Almighty has said the opposite of what the disbelievers said: « وَ اِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْاٰنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوْا لَهٗ وَ اَنْصِتُوْا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ » [ الأعراف : ۲۰۴ ] "And when the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent, so that mercy may be shown to you." That is, instead of seeking fake dominance, become seekers of true mercy.
➍ This insolence of the disbelievers was not only when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) tried to make them listen to the Quran, but even when he (peace be upon him) was reciting the Quran to his companions, or when he was reciting aloud during prayer, they would start abusing and using foul language at that time as well, upon which Allah Almighty revealed this verse: « وَ لَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَ لَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَ ابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ سَبِيْلًا» [ بني إسرائیل : ۱۱۰ ] "And do not recite your prayer loudly, nor recite it in a low voice, but seek a way between." For details, see the commentary of this verse in Surah Bani Isra'il.
