سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 22
بَلْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم مُّهْتَدُونَ ﴿22﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Nay! They say: "We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we guide ourselves by their footsteps."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
بَلْ
bal
Nay
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
they say
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, we
وَجَدْنَآ
wajadnā
[we] found
ءَابَآءَنَا
ābāanā
our forefathers
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
upon
أُمَّةٍۢ
ummatin
a religion
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
and indeed, we
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
on
ءَاثَـٰرِهِم
āthārihim
their footsteps
مُّهْتَدُونَ
muh'tadūna
(are) guided
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 22) {بَلْ قَالُوْۤا اِنَّا وَجَدْنَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا عَلٰۤى اُمَّةٍ … :} That is, it is not that they have any evidence or proof from any book of Allah for their misguidance; rather, their only evidence and proof is that they found their forefathers on this path and they are guided by following in their footsteps. For an ayah with a similar meaning, see Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:52, 53). To use the following of elders and ancestors as proof in false and baseless matters (such as shirk, bid‘ah, and customs) is a misguidance that has existed since ancient times, and it has been the practice of the disbelievers to present this as an argument against the prophets. The Quran has condemned them in numerous verses for this. It is clear that in any matter where there is no proof from Allah and His Messenger, to follow one’s forefathers or any imam, spiritual guide, or elder, and to say that since our elders have always done this, therefore we will also follow this path, is completely baseless. The reality is that this imitation by the followers only occurs in matters of religion; if they see any financial loss in their forefathers’ worldly business, they would never follow them. This shows that, in their view, loss in religion and the Hereafter is not considered a loss at all, otherwise they would never act in this way.
