سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 129
قَالُوٓا۟ أُوذِينَا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا ۚ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿129﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They said: "We (Children of Israel) had suffered troubles before you came to us, and since you have come to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you successors on the earth, so that He may see how you act?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They said
أُوذِينَا
ūdhīnā
We have been harmed
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
أَن
an
[that]
تَأْتِيَنَا
tatiyanā
you came to us
وَمِنۢ
wamin
from
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
and after
مَا
mā
[what]
جِئْتَنَا ۚ
ji'tanā
you have come to us
قَالَ
qāla
He said
عَسَىٰ
ʿasā
Perhaps
رَبُّكُمْ
rabbukum
your Lord
أَن
an
[that]
يُهْلِكَ
yuh'lika
will destroy
عَدُوَّكُمْ
ʿaduwwakum
your enemy
وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ
wayastakhlifakum
and make you successors
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
فَيَنظُرَ
fayanẓura
then see
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you will do
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 129) ➊ {قَالُوْا اُوْذِيْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِ … : } Even before, our children used to be killed, we were made to do hard labor, and our freedom was taken away; now, even after your arrival, the same slavery and hardship remain, and once again decisions are being made to kill our children.
➋ { فَيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُوْنَ:} Musa (peace be upon him) gave glad tidings that soon your Lord will destroy your enemy and grant you freedom and rule, and He will see whether you are grateful and obey His commands or whether you too become ungrateful and disobedient. It is evident that freedom and rule are great blessings from Allah Almighty. It does not befit a Muslim to be content with the slavery of disbelievers. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) says: “This statement was narrated for the Muslims to hear; this Surah is Makki, at that time the Muslims were also similarly oppressed, then glad tidings were given in a veiled manner.” (Mawdhih)
➋ { فَيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُوْنَ:} Musa (peace be upon him) gave glad tidings that soon your Lord will destroy your enemy and grant you freedom and rule, and He will see whether you are grateful and obey His commands or whether you too become ungrateful and disobedient. It is evident that freedom and rule are great blessings from Allah Almighty. It does not befit a Muslim to be content with the slavery of disbelievers. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) says: “This statement was narrated for the Muslims to hear; this Surah is Makki, at that time the Muslims were also similarly oppressed, then glad tidings were given in a veiled manner.” (Mawdhih)
