سُوْرَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Surah Muhammad (47) — Ayah 14
أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ كَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُۥ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُم ﴿14﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Is he who is on a clear proof from his Lord, like those for whom their evil deeds that they do are beautified for them, while they follow their own lusts (evil desires)?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَفَمَن
afaman
Then is (he) who
كَانَ
kāna
is
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
بَيِّنَةٍۢ
bayyinatin
a clear proof
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّهِۦ
rabbihi
his Lord
كَمَن
kaman
like (he) who
زُيِّنَ
zuyyina
is made attractive
لَهُۥ
lahu
to him
سُوٓءُ
sūu
(the) evil
عَمَلِهِۦ
ʿamalihi
(of) his deeds
وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟
wa-ittabaʿū
while they follow
أَهْوَآءَهُم
ahwāahum
their desires
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 14) ➊ {اَفَمَنْ كَانَ عَلٰى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّهٖ … :} In this verse, another difference between the believer and the disbeliever has been mentioned, on the basis of which Allah Almighty will admit those who have faith and do righteous deeds into Paradise, and the abode of those who disbelieve will be the Fire. {’’ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّهٖ ‘‘} (a clear proof from his Lord) refers firstly to the knowledge of Allah and His oneness placed in human nature, and along with that, the guidance and knowledge obtained from the Book revealed by Allah, due to which the believer has complete certainty that he is upon the truth. If he lives, he lives with this certainty that he is upon the truth, and if he fights and is martyred in the face of the enemy, it is with this same certainty. The path he is treading, its night is as bright as its day. It is said: Can this person be like the one whose evil deeds have been made attractive to him, so much so that even expelling the Messenger and the Muslims from their homes seems a good deed to him, and he turns away from the light of revelation and guidance, and sets out on the path of disbelief, polytheism, and blindly following his desires, by which even the light of his nature has been extinguished? The answer is obvious: these two can never be equal. So it is clear that their end can in no way be the same. Allah Almighty has mentioned this at several places; see Surah Ra’d (19), Surah Sad (28), and Surah Jathiyah (21).
➋ It is stated in Ahsan al-Tafasir: “The gist of these verses is that those who worship Allah alone have this proof (clear evidence and argument) that Allah Almighty has created man and all of man’s needs in such a way that there is no partner with Him in this, so He alone, without partner, is worthy of reverence and worship. And those who associate others with Allah in worship have no scriptural or rational proof. The evil of idol worship has been made attractive to them by Satan, so due to this satanic whispering, they follow their desires. This is what is referred to in {’’ وَ اتَّبَعُوْۤا اَهْوَآءَهُمْ ‘‘}.” (In summary)
➌ { ’’ كَمَنْ زُيِّنَ لَهٗ سُوْٓءُ عَمَلِهٖ ‘‘} (his evil deeds have been made attractive to him): The one who makes evil deeds attractive has been left unspecified, because there are many things that make a person’s evil deeds attractive to him, among which are his own desires, human and jinn devils, and the ill effect of his evil deeds. In the passive verb (have been made attractive), all these things that beautify are included.
➋ It is stated in Ahsan al-Tafasir: “The gist of these verses is that those who worship Allah alone have this proof (clear evidence and argument) that Allah Almighty has created man and all of man’s needs in such a way that there is no partner with Him in this, so He alone, without partner, is worthy of reverence and worship. And those who associate others with Allah in worship have no scriptural or rational proof. The evil of idol worship has been made attractive to them by Satan, so due to this satanic whispering, they follow their desires. This is what is referred to in {’’ وَ اتَّبَعُوْۤا اَهْوَآءَهُمْ ‘‘}.” (In summary)
➌ { ’’ كَمَنْ زُيِّنَ لَهٗ سُوْٓءُ عَمَلِهٖ ‘‘} (his evil deeds have been made attractive to him): The one who makes evil deeds attractive has been left unspecified, because there are many things that make a person’s evil deeds attractive to him, among which are his own desires, human and jinn devils, and the ill effect of his evil deeds. In the passive verb (have been made attractive), all these things that beautify are included.
