سُوْرَةُ الْجَاثِيَةِ
Surah Al-Jaathiya (45) — Ayah 25
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ مَّا كَانَ حُجَّتَهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ ٱئْتُوا۟ بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿25﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when Our Clear Verses are recited to them, their argument is no other than that they say: "Bring back our (dead) fathers, if you are truthful!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
تُتْلَىٰ
tut'lā
are recited
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
to them
ءَايَـٰتُنَا
āyātunā
Our Verses
بَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ
bayyinātin
clear
مَّا
mā
not
كَانَ
kāna
is
حُجَّتَهُمْ
ḥujjatahum
their argument
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَن
an
that
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they say
ٱئْتُوا۟
i'tū
Bring
بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ
biābāinā
our forefathers
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
صَـٰدِقِينَ
ṣādiqīna
truthful
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 25) ➊ { وَ اِذَا تُتْلٰى عَلَيْهِمْ اٰيٰتُنَا … :} This was the most weighty argument of the disbelievers which they presented before the prophets to deny the Hereafter: "If you are truthful in your belief that we will be resurrected after death, then bring back any one of our forefathers." However, the Qur'an has declared it impossible and unattainable for any individual to return to this world alive before the Day of Resurrection, while it has established rational arguments for the possibility of resurrection on the Day of Judgment, which are firm and undeniable. As for faith in the Hereafter, it depends entirely on the confirmation of the prophets, peace be upon them. The detailed explanation of this verse has already passed under verse (36) of Surah Ad-Dukhan.
➋ {مَا كَانَ حُجَّتَهُمْ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ قَالُوا …:} It is obvious that their saying, "If you are truthful that the Resurrection will come, then bring our forefathers back to life right now," is not an argument or proof, but rather a most futile statement, as detailed in Surah Ad-Dukhan (36). Here, it is called an argument only to make it clear that they have no argument at all, because what they consider an argument in their imagination has nothing to do with actual argument or proof. Calling it their argument is also meant as mockery and ridicule of them, that the arguments and proofs of these intelligent people are of this kind.
➋ {مَا كَانَ حُجَّتَهُمْ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ قَالُوا …:} It is obvious that their saying, "If you are truthful that the Resurrection will come, then bring our forefathers back to life right now," is not an argument or proof, but rather a most futile statement, as detailed in Surah Ad-Dukhan (36). Here, it is called an argument only to make it clear that they have no argument at all, because what they consider an argument in their imagination has nothing to do with actual argument or proof. Calling it their argument is also meant as mockery and ridicule of them, that the arguments and proofs of these intelligent people are of this kind.
