سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 23
وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ ﴿23﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And similarly, We sent not a warner before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) to any town (people) but the luxurious ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَكَذَٰلِكَ
wakadhālika
And thus
مَآ
mā
not
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
We sent
مِن
min
before you
قَبْلِكَ
qablika
before you
فِى
fī
in
قَرْيَةٍۢ
qaryatin
a town
مِّن
min
any
نَّذِيرٍ
nadhīrin
warner
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَالَ
qāla
said
مُتْرَفُوهَآ
mut'rafūhā
(the) wealthy ones of it
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, we
وَجَدْنَآ
wajadnā
[we] found
ءَابَآءَنَا
ābāanā
our forefathers
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
on
أُمَّةٍۢ
ummatin
a religion
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
and indeed, we
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
[on]
ءَاثَـٰرِهِم
āthārihim
their footsteps
مُّقْتَدُونَ
muq'tadūna
(are) following
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 23) ➊ {وَ كَذٰلِكَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِيْ قَرْيَةٍ … :} In this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is comforted that not only are these people afflicted with such foolishness and ignorance, but those before them also used to say the same to their messengers, so you should be patient with their words.
➋ Mufassir Kilani writes: “From this verse, it is understood that the strongest supporters and most insistent adherents of ancestral imitation are the well-off, affluent, and chieftain-type people. The reason for this is that if they accept the words of the Messenger, they would have to step down from their position of leadership and join the ranks of ordinary people, living as obedient followers of the Messenger. Another reason is that the Messenger imposes various restrictions on their means of livelihood, both in earning and spending wealth. If they accept these restrictions, their affluence itself is put at risk, so they consider it in their best interest to remain firm on ancestral imitation and keep the masses aligned with them.” (Tayseer al-Qur’an)
➋ Mufassir Kilani writes: “From this verse, it is understood that the strongest supporters and most insistent adherents of ancestral imitation are the well-off, affluent, and chieftain-type people. The reason for this is that if they accept the words of the Messenger, they would have to step down from their position of leadership and join the ranks of ordinary people, living as obedient followers of the Messenger. Another reason is that the Messenger imposes various restrictions on their means of livelihood, both in earning and spending wealth. If they accept these restrictions, their affluence itself is put at risk, so they consider it in their best interest to remain firm on ancestral imitation and keep the masses aligned with them.” (Tayseer al-Qur’an)
