سُوْرَةُ الْفَتْحِ
Surah Al-Fath (48) — Ayah 9
لِّتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا ﴿9﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
In order that you (O mankind) may believe in Allâh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and that you assist and honour him (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and (that you) glorify (Allâh’s) praises morning and afternoon.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لِّتُؤْمِنُوا۟
litu'minū
That you may believe
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَرَسُولِهِۦ
warasūlihi
and His Messenger
وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ
watuʿazzirūhu
and (may) honor him
وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ
watuwaqqirūhu
and respect him
وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ
watusabbiḥūhu
and glorify Him
بُكْرَةًۭ
buk'ratan
morning
وَأَصِيلًا
wa-aṣīlan
and evening
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) {لِتُؤْمِنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ وَ تُعَزِّرُوْهُ وَ تُوَقِّرُوْهُ …:} “Ta’zeer” means to help with honor. (Raghib) And “Tawqeer” is derived from “waqar,” meaning to honor. All commentators agree that by {’’ تُسَبِّحُوْهُ ‘‘} (do His tasbeeh) is meant the tasbeeh of Allah Almighty, because tasbeeh can only be for Allah and no one else. According to most commentators, in the two preceding words {’’ تُعَزِّرُوْهُ ‘‘} and {’’ تُوَقِّرُوْهُ ‘‘}, the pronoun in the third person should also refer to Allah Almighty, so that there is consistency in all the pronouns. The meaning would be: “So that you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and help Him (Allah), and honor Him, and do His tasbeeh in the beginning and end of the day.” By helping Allah is meant helping His religion, as He said: « اِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللّٰهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ » [ محمد :۷ ] “If you help Allah, He will help you.”
Some commentators have said that in {’’ وَ تُعَزِّرُوْهُ وَ تُوَقِّرُوْهُ ‘‘} the third person pronoun refers back to {’’ لِتُؤْمِنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ ‘‘} mentioned in {’’ رَسُوْلِهٖ ‘‘}, because it is closer to {’’ تُعَزِّرُوْهُ ‘‘}. Allah Almighty, after mentioning the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), commanded to honor and help him, and finally commanded His own tasbeeh. At this place, the appropriateness of mentioning the honor and help of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is quite clear, as ahead, the pledge to the Prophet is declared as a pledge to Allah. The meaning would be: “So that you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and help him (the Messenger), and honor him, and do His (Allah’s) tasbeeh in the beginning and end of the day.” This meaning is also correct, although in it the pronouns are not consistent, but if there is contextual evidence, consistency of pronouns is not necessary. This meaning is supported by the verse in Surah Al-A’raf in which the word “ta’zeer” is used for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), where He said: « فَالَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِهٖ وَ عَزَّرُوْهُ وَ نَصَرُوْهُ وَ اتَّبَعُوا النُّوْرَ الَّذِيْۤ اُنْزِلَ مَعَهٗۤ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ » [ الأعراف :۱۵۷ ] “So those who believe in him, and strengthen him, and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, they are the successful.” In the Qur’an and Hadith, the word “ta’zeer” in the sense of strengthening or helping has not been used for Allah Almighty. However, the root of “tawqeer” {’’ وَقَارٌ ‘‘} has been used for Allah Almighty in Surah Nuh, where He said: «مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ وَقَارًا » [نوح : ۱۳ ] “What is the matter with you that you do not fear the greatness of Allah?” Therefore, in terms of context, the second meaning is correct, although the excellence of consistency of pronouns present in the first interpretation is not found in the second.
Some commentators have said that in {’’ وَ تُعَزِّرُوْهُ وَ تُوَقِّرُوْهُ ‘‘} the third person pronoun refers back to {’’ لِتُؤْمِنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ ‘‘} mentioned in {’’ رَسُوْلِهٖ ‘‘}, because it is closer to {’’ تُعَزِّرُوْهُ ‘‘}. Allah Almighty, after mentioning the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), commanded to honor and help him, and finally commanded His own tasbeeh. At this place, the appropriateness of mentioning the honor and help of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is quite clear, as ahead, the pledge to the Prophet is declared as a pledge to Allah. The meaning would be: “So that you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and help him (the Messenger), and honor him, and do His (Allah’s) tasbeeh in the beginning and end of the day.” This meaning is also correct, although in it the pronouns are not consistent, but if there is contextual evidence, consistency of pronouns is not necessary. This meaning is supported by the verse in Surah Al-A’raf in which the word “ta’zeer” is used for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), where He said: « فَالَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِهٖ وَ عَزَّرُوْهُ وَ نَصَرُوْهُ وَ اتَّبَعُوا النُّوْرَ الَّذِيْۤ اُنْزِلَ مَعَهٗۤ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ » [ الأعراف :۱۵۷ ] “So those who believe in him, and strengthen him, and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, they are the successful.” In the Qur’an and Hadith, the word “ta’zeer” in the sense of strengthening or helping has not been used for Allah Almighty. However, the root of “tawqeer” {’’ وَقَارٌ ‘‘} has been used for Allah Almighty in Surah Nuh, where He said: «مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ وَقَارًا » [نوح : ۱۳ ] “What is the matter with you that you do not fear the greatness of Allah?” Therefore, in terms of context, the second meaning is correct, although the excellence of consistency of pronouns present in the first interpretation is not found in the second.
