سُوْرَةُ قٓ
Surah Qaaf (50) — Ayah 3
أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا ۖ ذَٰلِكَ رَجْعٌۢ بَعِيدٌ ﴿3﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be resurrected?) That is a far return."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَءِذَا
a-idhā
What! When
مِتْنَا
mit'nā
we die
وَكُنَّا
wakunnā
and have become
تُرَابًۭا ۖ
turāban
dust
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
رَجْعٌۢ
rajʿun
(is) a return
بَعِيدٌۭ
baʿīdun
far
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 3) ➊ { ءَاِذَا مِتْنَا وَ كُنَّا تُرَابًا: ’’ اِذَا ‘‘} is the adverbial phrase of an omitted verb: {’’أَيْ أَ نَرْجِعُ إِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا ‘‘} "That is, will we really return when we have died and become dust?" See also Surah Ra'd (5) and Surah Saffat (16).
➋ { ذٰلِكَ رَجْعٌۢ بَعِيْدٌ:} This return is very far from reason, meaning in their view it is not even possible.
➌ The reality is that the things the disbelievers considered astonishing are not astonishing; rather, the astonishing things are what the disbelievers say. Thus, they considered it astonishing that a warner and one to warn them came from among themselves, whereas a member of their own kind is more sincere and well-wishing in warning and informing. What would have been astonishing is if an angel had come to warn humans, or if a Chinese had come to the Arabs. Then, they are astonished that a human became a messenger, and they are not astonished that they consider a stone to be their Lord and worship it. Then, they call it strange to be resurrected after becoming dust, and they are not astonished that they were created and given life from this very dust the first time. Therefore, Allah Almighty declared their denial of the Resurrection to be astonishing, saying: «وَ اِنْ تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ ءَاِذَا كُنَّا تُرٰبًا ءَاِنَّا لَفِيْ خَلْقٍ جَدِيْدٍ » [ الرعد : ۵ ] "And if you are astonished, then their saying is astonishing: 'When we have become dust, will we really be in a new creation?'" (Biqā‘ī)
➋ { ذٰلِكَ رَجْعٌۢ بَعِيْدٌ:} This return is very far from reason, meaning in their view it is not even possible.
➌ The reality is that the things the disbelievers considered astonishing are not astonishing; rather, the astonishing things are what the disbelievers say. Thus, they considered it astonishing that a warner and one to warn them came from among themselves, whereas a member of their own kind is more sincere and well-wishing in warning and informing. What would have been astonishing is if an angel had come to warn humans, or if a Chinese had come to the Arabs. Then, they are astonished that a human became a messenger, and they are not astonished that they consider a stone to be their Lord and worship it. Then, they call it strange to be resurrected after becoming dust, and they are not astonished that they were created and given life from this very dust the first time. Therefore, Allah Almighty declared their denial of the Resurrection to be astonishing, saying: «وَ اِنْ تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ ءَاِذَا كُنَّا تُرٰبًا ءَاِنَّا لَفِيْ خَلْقٍ جَدِيْدٍ » [ الرعد : ۵ ] "And if you are astonished, then their saying is astonishing: 'When we have become dust, will we really be in a new creation?'" (Biqā‘ī)
