سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 76
وَمَا ظَلَمْنَـٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿76﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
We wronged them not, but they were the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
ظَلَمْنَـٰهُمْ
ẓalamnāhum
We wronged them
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
but
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they were
هُمُ
humu
themselves
ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
l-ẓālimīna
wrongdoers
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 76) {وَ مَا ظَلَمْنٰهُمْ وَ لٰكِنْ كَانُوْا …:} Here, one might think that such a great and eternal punishment is injustice, so it is stated that We did not wrong them in any way, because it is impossible for Allah Almighty to wrong anyone; rather, they themselves were the wrongdoers, to the extent that being unjust became their attribute and identity, because injustice had become their constant action, their habit, and their nature. Their intention and resolve was that as long as they lived, they would remain firm upon it. If it were in their power, they would never die and would always persist in injustice and polytheism. Since actions depend upon intentions, they were given eternal punishment for their eternal intention of injustice, and We did not wrong them, but they themselves were the wrongdoers.
