سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 18
وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ نَحْنُ أَبْنَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱللَّهِ وَأَحِبَّـٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُم بِذُنُوبِكُم ۖ بَلْ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿18﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are the children of Allâh and His loved ones." Say: "Why then does He punish you for your sins?" Nay, you are but human beings of those He has created, He forgives whom He wills and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allâh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; and to Him is the return (of all).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَقَالَتِ
waqālati
And said
ٱلْيَهُودُ
l-yahūdu
the Jews
وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ
wal-naṣārā
and the Christians
نَحْنُ
naḥnu
We (are)
أَبْنَـٰٓؤُا۟
abnāu
(the) children
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَأَحِبَّـٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ
wa-aḥibbāuhu
and His beloved
قُلْ
qul
Say
فَلِمَ
falima
Then why
يُعَذِّبُكُم
yuʿadhibukum
(does He) punish you
بِذُنُوبِكُم ۖ
bidhunūbikum
for your sins
بَلْ
bal
Nay
أَنتُم
antum
you (are)
بَشَرٌۭ
basharun
human beings
مِّمَّنْ
mimman
from among (those)
خَلَقَ ۚ
khalaqa
He created
يَغْفِرُ
yaghfiru
He forgives
لِمَن
liman
[for] whom
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
He wills
وَيُعَذِّبُ
wayuʿadhibu
and punishes
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
He wills
وَلِلَّهِ
walillahi
And for Allah
مُلْكُ
mul'ku
(is the) dominion
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
(of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
وَمَا
wamā
and whatever
بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ
baynahumā
(is) between them
وَإِلَيْهِ
wa-ilayhi
and to Him
ٱلْمَصِيرُ
l-maṣīru
(is) the final return
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 18) {وَ قَالَتِ الْيَهُوْدُ وَ النَّصٰرٰى نَحْنُ اَبْنٰٓؤُا اللّٰهِ …… :} In this noble verse, another misguidance of the Jews and Christians is mentioned: that “We are Allah’s sons and beloved people.” Indeed, such references are still present in the Bible: “The Lord said, ‘Israel is my son, even my firstborn.’” (Exodus 4:22) “You are the children of the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 14:22) And in the Gospel, it is mentioned that the Messiah (peace be upon him) said to the Christians: “I am going to my Father and your Father.”
Although some Jews and Christians say that “son” means beloved and dear, still their pride and expression of superiority over others—that we are a specially close to God, and elevated class of people, as the Brahmins and others claim—is completely wrong. Allah Almighty refuted this and said: If this were the case, then why would Allah punish you for your sins? Does any lover ever punish his beloved? Whereas you yourselves admit with your own tongues that you will only be put in the Fire for a limited number of days. The reality is that this assumption, upon which you are living, is utterly false. You are only human; Allah’s relationship with you is only that of Creator to creation and Master to slave. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. No matter how close someone is, whether a Sayyid, Brahmin, or spiritual guide, if Allah does not will, neither can he save himself from punishment nor can he save anyone else. All of them will be presented before Him, trembling, awaiting His decision. Why are you destroying yourselves with your false hopes?
Although some Jews and Christians say that “son” means beloved and dear, still their pride and expression of superiority over others—that we are a specially close to God, and elevated class of people, as the Brahmins and others claim—is completely wrong. Allah Almighty refuted this and said: If this were the case, then why would Allah punish you for your sins? Does any lover ever punish his beloved? Whereas you yourselves admit with your own tongues that you will only be put in the Fire for a limited number of days. The reality is that this assumption, upon which you are living, is utterly false. You are only human; Allah’s relationship with you is only that of Creator to creation and Master to slave. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. No matter how close someone is, whether a Sayyid, Brahmin, or spiritual guide, if Allah does not will, neither can he save himself from punishment nor can he save anyone else. All of them will be presented before Him, trembling, awaiting His decision. Why are you destroying yourselves with your false hopes?
