سُوْرَةُ الدُّخَانِ
Surah Ad-Dukhaan (44) — Ayah 32
وَلَقَدِ ٱخْتَرْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿32﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We chose them (the Children of Israel) above the ‘Âlamîn (mankind and jinn) [during the time of Mûsâ (Moses)] with knowledge,
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدِ
walaqadi
And certainly
ٱخْتَرْنَـٰهُمْ
ikh'tarnāhum
We chose them
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
by
عِلْمٍ
ʿil'min
knowledge
عَلَى
ʿalā
over
ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
l-ʿālamīna
the worlds
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 32) ➊ { وَ لَقَدِ اخْتَرْنٰهُمْ:’’اِخْتَرْنَا‘‘ ’’اِخْتَارَ يَخْتَارُ اِخْتِيَارًا‘‘} is the first person plural perfect active from (افتعال). Here too, the purpose of bringing {’’ لَقَدْ ‘‘} is that how can such a downtrodden nation suddenly gain superiority over the entire world? It is said, "By oath, We have chosen them over all the worlds," so why would Our chosen ones not have superiority?
➋ { عَلٰى عِلْمٍ:} means that We did not choose them without reason, rather We knew their virtues and abilities, and We were also aware of their flaws and weaknesses. It was on the basis of this knowledge that We selected them from among all the nations of their time.
➌ By {عَلَى الْعٰلَمِيْنَ: ’’ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ ‘‘} is meant the worlds of their time, not all worlds, because Allah Almighty has declared the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) as: «كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ اُمَّةٍ » [ آل عمران : ۱۱۰ ] and thus better than all other nations, because {’’ كَانَ ‘‘} indicates continuity. Yes, there are some partial virtues in the Children of Israel that are unique to them, such as so many prophets being sent among them, but in an overall and comprehensive sense, the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is superior.
➋ { عَلٰى عِلْمٍ:} means that We did not choose them without reason, rather We knew their virtues and abilities, and We were also aware of their flaws and weaknesses. It was on the basis of this knowledge that We selected them from among all the nations of their time.
➌ By {عَلَى الْعٰلَمِيْنَ: ’’ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ ‘‘} is meant the worlds of their time, not all worlds, because Allah Almighty has declared the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) as: «كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ اُمَّةٍ » [ آل عمران : ۱۱۰ ] and thus better than all other nations, because {’’ كَانَ ‘‘} indicates continuity. Yes, there are some partial virtues in the Children of Israel that are unique to them, such as so many prophets being sent among them, but in an overall and comprehensive sense, the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is superior.
