سُوْرَةُ الشُّوْرٰي
Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 51
۞ وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ ﴿51﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is not given to any human being that Allâh should speak to him unless (it be) by Revelation, or from behind a veil, or (that) He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His Leave. Verily, He is Most High, Most Wise.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
is
لِبَشَرٍ
libasharin
for any human
أَن
an
that
يُكَلِّمَهُ
yukallimahu
Allah should speak to him
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah should speak to him
إِلَّا
illā
except
وَحْيًا
waḥyan
(by) revelation
أَوْ
aw
or
مِن
min
from
وَرَآئِ
warāi
behind
حِجَابٍ
ḥijābin
a veil
أَوْ
aw
or
يُرْسِلَ
yur'sila
(by) sending
رَسُولًۭا
rasūlan
a messenger
فَيُوحِىَ
fayūḥiya
then he reveals
بِإِذْنِهِۦ
bi-idh'nihi
by His permission
مَا
mā
what
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
He wills
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
عَلِىٌّ
ʿaliyyun
(is) Most High
حَكِيمٌۭ
ḥakīmun
Most Wise
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 51) ➊ {وَ مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ اَنْ يُّكَلِّمَهُ اللّٰهُ:} The disbelievers said: « لَوْ لَا يُكَلِّمُنَا اللّٰهُ » [ البقرۃ : ۱۱۸ ] "Why does Allah not speak to us (directly)?" Rather, their desire was that just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) was given the Book, each one of them should also be given a book in the same way, as He said: « بَلْ يُرِيْدُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ اَنْ يُّؤْتٰى صُحُفًا مُّنَشَّرَةً» [ المدثر : ۵۲ ] "Rather, every one of them desires that open scriptures be given to him." Allah Almighty answered that Allah does not speak to everyone, rather He selects from among the angels and humans for this, as He said: « اَللّٰهُ يَصْطَفِيْ مِنَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةِ رُسُلًا وَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ » [ الحج : ۷۵ ] "Allah chooses messengers from among the angels and from among the people." He bestows this blessing upon whom He wills, and no one can say why he did not receive this blessing. In this verse, it is said that even with His chosen servants, He does not speak face to face, nor is this possible for any human in this world. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ حِجَابُهُ النُّوْرُ وَ فِيْ رِوَايَةِ أَبِيْ بَكْرٍ النَّارُ، لَوْ كَشَفَهُ لَأَحْرَقَتْ سُبُحَاتُ وَجْهِهِ مَا انْتَهٰي إِلَيْهِ بَصَرُهُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ ] [ مسلم، الإیمان، باب في قولہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ’’إن اللّٰہ لا ینام‘‘… : ۱۷۹ ] "Allah's veil is 'light'." In Abu Bakr's narration, it is "fire." "If He were to remove it, the radiance of His face would burn all of His creation as far as His gaze reaches." Yes, in the Hereafter, the believers will see Allah Almighty. For details, see Surah Qiyamah (22, 23).
➋ { اِلَّا وَحْيًا:} Allah Almighty said that He does not speak to humans except in these three ways: one, through revelation, that is, He puts something into His servant's heart without any intermediary, so that he is certain it is from Allah, whether in a waking state or in sleep, because the dreams of the prophets are also revelation. See Surah Saffat (102).
➌ { اَوْ مِنْ وَّرَآء حِجَابٍ:} Or He speaks from behind a veil, as He spoke to Musa (peace be upon him), but when he requested to see, it was not accepted.
➍ { اَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُوْلًا:} Or Allah sends an angel to convey whatever He wants to convey, as revelation would come to you through Jibreel (peace be upon him) or other angels.
➎ { اِنَّهٗ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيْمٌ:} That is, He is far above speaking face to face with any human, or that everyone could attain the honor of His speech, and He is the Most Wise, under whose wisdom He does not speak to every human.
➋ { اِلَّا وَحْيًا:} Allah Almighty said that He does not speak to humans except in these three ways: one, through revelation, that is, He puts something into His servant's heart without any intermediary, so that he is certain it is from Allah, whether in a waking state or in sleep, because the dreams of the prophets are also revelation. See Surah Saffat (102).
➌ { اَوْ مِنْ وَّرَآء حِجَابٍ:} Or He speaks from behind a veil, as He spoke to Musa (peace be upon him), but when he requested to see, it was not accepted.
➍ { اَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُوْلًا:} Or Allah sends an angel to convey whatever He wants to convey, as revelation would come to you through Jibreel (peace be upon him) or other angels.
➎ { اِنَّهٗ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيْمٌ:} That is, He is far above speaking face to face with any human, or that everyone could attain the honor of His speech, and He is the Most Wise, under whose wisdom He does not speak to every human.
