سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 105
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿105﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allâh, then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
Upon you
أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ
anfusakum
(is to guard) yourselves
لَا
lā
Not
يَضُرُّكُم
yaḍurrukum
will harm you
مَّن
man
(those) who
ضَلَّ
ḍalla
(have gone) astray
إِذَا
idhā
when
ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ
ih'tadaytum
you have been guided
إِلَى
ilā
To
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَرْجِعُكُمْ
marjiʿukum
(is) your return
جَمِيعًۭا
jamīʿan
all
فَيُنَبِّئُكُم
fayunabbi-ukum
then He will inform you
بِمَا
bimā
of what
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you used to
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
do
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 105) {يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا عَلَيْكُمْ اَنْفُسَكُم … :} That is, even after such clear explanation of monotheism and the commands of the Shariah, repeated encouragement, and warnings against disobedience to Allah’s commands and His punishment, if these people persist in their ignorance, then do not worry about their misguidance and ignorance. If you remain on the straight path yourself, then the ignorance of these people will not bring any harm upon you. That is, first and foremost, be concerned with your own reform; do not become so preoccupied with the faults and mistakes of others that you forget your own self-reform. If you are on the straight path, misguided people will not be able to harm you in any way. Included in remaining on the straight path and guidance is that you will continue to enjoin good and forbid evil, so their misguidance will certainly not be able to harm you. Some people have misunderstood from this verse that a person should only worry about his own salvation and that reforming others is not necessary. To remove this misunderstanding, Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said in one of his sermons: “O people! You recite this verse and take its meaning incorrectly. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘When people see an oppressor and do not restrain his hand, it is near that Allah will bring punishment upon all of them.’” In the same hadith it is stated: “There is no nation among whom Allah’s disobedience is committed, and they have the power to change it but do not do so, except that it is near that Allah will encompass all of them in His punishment.” [ أبو داوٗد، الملاحم، باب الأمر والنہی : ۴۳۳۸ ] The words of {’’اِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ ‘‘} indicate that the meaning of the verse is that if, despite your enjoining good and forbidding evil, people do not desist, then there will be no burden upon those who enjoin good. (Ibn Kathir)
