سُوْرَةُ الذَّارِياتِ
Surah Adh-Dhaariyat (51) — Ayah 39
فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَـٰحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ ﴿39﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But [Fir‘aun (Pharaoh)] turned away (from Belief in might) along with his hosts, and said: "A sorcerer, or a madman."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَتَوَلَّىٰ
fatawallā
But he turned away
بِرُكْنِهِۦ
biruk'nihi
with his supporters
وَقَالَ
waqāla
and said
سَـٰحِرٌ
sāḥirun
A magician
أَوْ
aw
or
مَجْنُونٌۭ
majnūnun
a madman
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.
In {فَتَوَلّٰى بِرُكْنِهٖ وَ قَالَ سٰحِرٌ اَوْ مَجْنُوْنٌ: ’’ بِرُكْنِهٖ ‘‘}, the "ba" is for causation. In {’’رُكْنٌ‘‘}, it means support and reliance, strength. That is, he turned away from these clear proofs because of the strength of his kingdom and armies, and despite recognizing the truth, he refused to believe and, in order to turn people away from Musa (peace be upon him), began to say that he is either a magician or insane. The incident of Musa (peace be upon him) and his detailed conversation with Pharaoh, in which Pharaoh called him insane and then a magician, can be seen in Surah Ash-Shu'ara (10 to 35).
