سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 79
كَانُوا۟ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿79﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They used not to forbid one another from Al-Munkar (wrong, evil-doing, sins, polytheism, disbelief) which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
كَانُوا۟
kānū
They had been
لَا
lā
not
يَتَنَاهَوْنَ
yatanāhawna
forbidding each other
عَن
ʿan
from
مُّنكَرٍۢ
munkarin
wrongdoing
فَعَلُوهُ ۚ
faʿalūhu
they did [it]
لَبِئْسَ
labi'sa
Surely, evil
مَا
mā
(was) what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they were
يَفْعَلُونَ
yafʿalūna
doing
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 79) {كَانُوْا لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَنْ مُّنْكَرٍ …… : ’’ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ ‘‘} is from the form of tafa'ul, its meaning is also to refrain and also to forbid one another. Here, it is the explanation of their disobedience and transgression mentioned in the previous verse: firstly, when they committed an evil deed, they would persist in it, not refraining at all, that is, instead of feeling remorse for the sin, they would insist upon it. Secondly, they would not forbid one another from evil. Their righteous people began to think that if some people are doing evil deeds, let them do so, its burden will be upon them, as for us, we are righteous in our own place. However, if there is no enjoining of good and forbidding of evil, and even hatred from the heart is absent, then the last degree of faith, that is, even the weakest faith, does not remain. Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able, then with his tongue; and if he is not able, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith." [ مسلم، الإیمان، باب کون النہی عن المنکر عن الایمان…… : ۴۹ ]
Hudhaifah bin Yaman (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By Him in Whose hand is my soul! You must certainly enjoin good and forbid evil, or else it is near that Allah will send upon you a punishment from Himself, then you will supplicate to Him and He will not respond to your supplication." [ أحمد : 388/5، ح : ۲۳۳۶۳۔ ترمذی : ۲۱۶۹، وحسنہ الترمذی والألبانی ]
Hudhaifah bin Yaman (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By Him in Whose hand is my soul! You must certainly enjoin good and forbid evil, or else it is near that Allah will send upon you a punishment from Himself, then you will supplicate to Him and He will not respond to your supplication." [ أحمد : 388/5، ح : ۲۳۳۶۳۔ ترمذی : ۲۱۶۹، وحسنہ الترمذی والألبانی ]
