Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He it is Who created you, then some of you are disbelievers and some of you are believers. And Allâh is All-Seer of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
هُوَhuwaHe
ٱلَّذِىalladhī(is) the One Who
خَلَقَكُمْkhalaqakumcreated you
فَمِنكُمْfaminkumand among you
كَافِرٌۭkāfirun(is) a disbeliever
وَمِنكُمwaminkumand among you
مُّؤْمِنٌۭ ۚmu'minun(is) a believer
وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuAnd Allah
بِمَاbimāof what
تَعْمَلُونَtaʿmalūnayou do
بَصِيرٌbaṣīrun(is) All-Seer
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 2) ➊ {هُوَالَّذِيْخَلَقَكُمْفَمِنْكُمْكَافِرٌوَّمِنْكُمْمُّؤْمِنٌ:} That is, it is only the One possessing such attributes Who created you, and, instead of making you, like other creatures, bound in every matter by His creative command, He made both the paths of faith and disbelief clear to you and gave you the choice to follow either of them. Now, the truth was that you should have shown gratitude to your Creator by believing in Him, but instead, you split into two groups. Thus, some of you are disbelievers and some are believers. Now, do not think that there will be you will not be questioned regarding your disbelief, or that there will be no reward for believing, rather, whatever you are doing, Allah Almighty is fully watching it, and He will give everyone punishment or reward according to his deeds. Here, {’’ فَمِنْكُمْكَافِرٌ ‘‘} is mentioned first because the purpose is to express displeasure that even with such attributes and being your Creator, many among you are disbelievers. Besides, it also expresses that the disbelievers are more in number. (See Bani Isra'il: 89; Saba: 20) The same thing is stated in this verse as is detailed in the following verses of Surah Dahr, it is said: « اِنَّاخَلَقْنَاالْاِنْسَانَمِنْنُّطْفَةٍاَمْشَاجٍنَّبْتَلِيْهِفَجَعَلْنٰهُسَمِيْعًۢابَصِيْرًا (2) اِنَّاهَدَيْنٰهُالسَّبِيْلَاِمَّاشَاكِرًاوَّاِمَّاكَفُوْرًا (3) اِنَّاۤاَعْتَدْنَالِلْكٰفِرِيْنَسَلٰسِلَاۡوَاَغْلٰلًاوَّسَعِيْرًا (4) اِنَّالْاَبْرَارَيَشْرَبُوْنَمِنْكَاْسٍكَانَمِزَاجُهَاكَافُوْرًا »[ الدہر : ۲ تا ۵ ] "Indeed, We created man from a mixed drop, We test him, so We made him hearing and seeing. Indeed, We showed him the way, whether he becomes grateful or ungrateful. Surely, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blazing fire. Indeed, the righteous will drink from a cup whose mixture is of camphor."
➋ From this verse, it is understood that at the time of creation, no one is a disbeliever, rather, at birth every human is upon the natural disposition, then later he either chooses disbelief or remains firm upon faith. For details, see the exegesis of Surah Rum (30 to 32).
➌ It is also understood that there are only two types of all people: either they are believers, who believe in Allah Almighty, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and destiny, or they are disbelievers; there is no third type who is neither a believer nor a disbeliever. If a believer commits a sin, he will not be declared outside of faith or a disbeliever because of it, nor will it be said that he is neither a believer nor a disbeliever, rather, he is a believer with deficient faith, and he will be called a believer as long as he believes in those things whose being part of the religion is known to all. If he denies any of these things or does an act that is a sign of apostasy, then he is no longer a believer but a disbeliever.