سُوْرَةُ الدُّخَانِ
Surah Ad-Dukhaan (44) — Ayah 9
بَلْ هُمْ فِى شَكٍّ يَلْعَبُونَ ﴿9﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Nay! They play about in doubt.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
بَلْ
bal
Nay
هُمْ
hum
they
فِى
fī
(are) in
شَكٍّۢ
shakkin
doubt
يَلْعَبُونَ
yalʿabūna
playing
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 9) {بَلْ هُمْ فِيْ شَكٍّ يَّلْعَبُوْنَ:} In this brief phrase, a great reality has been indicated. Whether atheists or polytheists, all of them, from time to time, experience such moments when their hearts from within tell them that there is some flaw somewhere in what they have believed. No matter how staunch an atheist may appear in his denial of God, at some point his heart testifies that from a speck of dust to the galaxies, and from a blade of grass to the creation of man, this astonishing and wisdom-filled system cannot come into existence without a Wise Creator. Similarly, a polytheist, no matter how deeply immersed he is in his polytheism, at some time his heart also cries out that those whom I have taken as deities cannot be God. But the result of this inner testimony is neither that they attain certainty in the existence of God and His oneness, nor that they achieve complete certainty and satisfaction in their polytheism and atheism. Instead, their religion is in fact based on doubt, no matter how intensely they display conviction in it. Now, as for the question of why they do not seriously seek the truth so that they may escape the restlessness of doubt and enjoy the peace of certainty and satisfaction, the answer is that it is seriousness in matters of religion that they lack. In their view, the real importance is only in the earnings of the world and its pleasures, for which they expend all the powers of their hearts, minds, and bodies. As for religious matters, in reality, for them, these are nothing but a game, an amusement, and a mental luxury, on which they cannot spend even a few moments with seriousness. If there are religious rituals, they are performed as a pastime; if there are debates of denial and atheism, they are conducted as a pastime. Who among them has so much leisure from worldly occupations to sit and think whether we are deviating from the truth, and if we are deviating from the truth, what will be its outcome? (Tafheem-ul-Quran with slight adaptation)
