سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 56
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِّلْـَٔاخِرِينَ ﴿56﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We made them a precedent (as a lesson for those coming after them), and an example to later generations.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ
fajaʿalnāhum
And We made them
سَلَفًۭا
salafan
a precedent
وَمَثَلًۭا
wamathalan
and an example
لِّلْـَٔاخِرِينَ
lil'ākhirīna
for the later (generations)
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 56) {فَجَعَلْنٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَّ مَثَلًا لِّلْاٰخِرِيْنَ:’’ سَلَفًا ‘‘ ’’ سَالِفٌ ‘‘} is the plural of {’’خَادِمٌ‘‘}, just as the plural of {’’حَارِسٌ‘‘} is {’’خَدَمٌ‘‘} and {’’حَرَسٌ‘‘ }. {’’سالف‘‘} refers to one who is first in existence, in an action, or in a place before another. Since the mention here is of retribution, {’’ سَلَفًا ‘‘} refers to those who are first in retribution, meaning those who come after them will also face similar retribution. The meaning of {’’ مَثَلًا ‘‘} is a similar thing, intended as a lesson that is taken by seeing people like oneself, that if we continue actions like theirs, our end will be the same. {’’ لِلْاٰخِرِيْنَ ‘‘} are those who are the last to resemble the people of Pharaoh mentioned in this discourse. The intent is the polytheists who denied the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, because in idol worship and denying the Messenger, they are the last to resemble them. The meaning is that We made them a lesson for these last polytheists, so it is incumbent upon them to take heed from their outcome.
