سُوْرَةُ الذَّارِياتِ
Surah Adh-Dhaariyat (51) — Ayah 16
ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ ﴿16﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinûn (good-doers. See V.2:112).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ءَاخِذِينَ
ākhidhīna
Taking
مَآ
mā
what
ءَاتَىٰهُمْ
ātāhum
their Lord has given them
رَبُّهُمْ ۚ
rabbuhum
their Lord has given them
إِنَّهُمْ
innahum
Indeed, they
كَانُوا۟
kānū
were
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
مُحْسِنِينَ
muḥ'sinīna
good-doers
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 16) ➊ {اٰخِذِيْنَ مَاۤ اٰتٰىهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ:} Although its literal meaning is “they will take what their Lord gives them,” but in view of the context and the implication of the word {’’ اٰتٰىهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ‘‘}, it is clear that here it does not merely mean taking, but rather it means that their Lord will give them without measure and they will take it with full satisfaction and happiness. Abu Sa‘id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَقُوْلُ لِأَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ يَا أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ! فَيَقُوْلُوْنَ لَبَّيْكَ رَبَّنَا وَسَعْدَيْكَ وَالْخَيْرُ فِيْ يَدَيْكَ، فَيَقُوْلُ هَلْ رَضِيْتُمْ؟ فَيَقُوْلُوْنَ وَ مَا لَنَا لاَ نَرْضٰی يَا رَبِّ! وَقَدْ أَعْطَيْتَنَا مَا لَمْ تُعْطِ أَحَدًا مِّنْ خَلْقِكَ؟ فَيَقُوْلُ أَلاَ أُعْطِيْكُمْ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ ؟ فَيَقُوْلُوْنَ يَا رَبِّ! وَ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ ؟ فَيَقُوْلُ أُحِلُّ عَلَيْكُمْ رِضْوَانِيْ فَلاَ أَسْخَطُ عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدَهُ أَبَدًا ] [ بخاري، التوحید، باب کلام الرب مع أھل الجنۃ : ۷۵۱۸] “Allah Almighty will say to the people of Paradise: ‘O people of Paradise!’ They will say: ‘We are present, O our Lord! We are present, and all goodness is in Your hands.’ He will say: ‘Are you pleased?’ They will say: ‘Why should we not be pleased when You have given us what You have not given to any of Your creation?’ He will say: ‘Shall I not give you something even better than that?’ They will say: ‘O our Lord! What could be better than this?’ He will say: ‘I bestow upon you My pleasure and approval, so after this I will never be displeased with you.’”
➋ {اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا قَبْلَ ذٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِيْنَ: ’’إِنَّ‘‘} is used for reasoning, meaning this blessing will be given to them because they used to practice Ihsan in the world before this. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) defined Ihsan as follows: [ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللّٰهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ] [ بخاري، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم … : ۵۰ ] “(Ihsan is) that you worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then surely He sees you.” The literal meaning of {’’ مُحْسِنِيْنَ ‘‘} is {’’عَامِلِيْنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ‘‘}, meaning they were doers of good deeds. Some details of these good deeds are mentioned ahead.
➋ {اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا قَبْلَ ذٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِيْنَ: ’’إِنَّ‘‘} is used for reasoning, meaning this blessing will be given to them because they used to practice Ihsan in the world before this. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) defined Ihsan as follows: [ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللّٰهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ] [ بخاري، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم … : ۵۰ ] “(Ihsan is) that you worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then surely He sees you.” The literal meaning of {’’ مُحْسِنِيْنَ ‘‘} is {’’عَامِلِيْنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ‘‘}, meaning they were doers of good deeds. Some details of these good deeds are mentioned ahead.
