سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 185
أَوَلَمْ يَنظُرُوا۟ فِى مَلَكُوتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ وَأَنْ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ قَدِ ٱقْتَرَبَ أَجَلُهُمْ ۖ فَبِأَىِّ حَدِيثٍۭ بَعْدَهُۥ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿185﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all things that Allâh has created; and that it may be that the end of their lives is near. In what message after this will they then believe?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوَلَمْ
awalam
Do not
يَنظُرُوا۟
yanẓurū
they look
فِى
fī
in
مَلَكُوتِ
malakūti
(the) dominion
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
(of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
وَمَا
wamā
and what
خَلَقَ
khalaqa
has (been) created
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
(by) Allah
مِن
min
of
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
(every)thing
وَأَنْ
wa-an
and that
عَسَىٰٓ
ʿasā
perhaps
أَن
an
[that]
يَكُونَ
yakūna
has
قَدِ
qadi
verily
ٱقْتَرَبَ
iq'taraba
come near
أَجَلُهُمْ ۖ
ajaluhum
their term
فَبِأَىِّ
fabi-ayyi
So in what
حَدِيثٍۭ
ḥadīthin
statement
بَعْدَهُۥ
baʿdahu
after this
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
will they believe
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 185) ➊ {اَوَ لَمْ يَنْظُرُوْا فِيْ مَلَكُوْتِ السَّمٰوٰتِ: ’’ مَلَكُوْتِ ‘‘} In the word {’’ مُلْكٌ ‘‘}, the addition of "waw" and "ta" is for the purpose of expanding the meaning, therefore it has been translated as "magnificent kingdom." The cosmic signs, that is, the magnificent kingdom of Allah Almighty, also prove that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is a true prophet, because the monotheism to which he (peace be upon him) is inviting is being proven by every single thing in the magnificent kingdom of the heavens and the earth and the entire universe, even every single particle. Therefore, Allah Almighty, with the words «{ وَ مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ }», has also invited attention to every great or small thing that He has created in this kingdom. Every particle of such a vast kingdom testifies that I have a Creator, and He is One, for there is no flaw, clash, or accident in any part of this magnificent kingdom.
➋ {وَّ اَنْ عَسٰۤى اَنْ يَّكُوْنَ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ اَجَلُهُمْ:} And have they not thought that perhaps their appointed time has drawn very near, that is, no one knows the appointed time of death; a person should at least keep examining his beliefs and actions with the understanding that perhaps the moment of his death has come near, but these unfortunate ones do not even understand this much.
➌ The invitation to reflection and contemplation is proof that the excuse of blind following will be of no use on the Day of Judgment.
➍ { فَبِاَيِّ حَدِيْثٍۭ بَعْدَهٗ يُؤْمِنُوْنَ:} That is, what greater miracle can there be than the Qur'an, and in which book can there be better advice than this, and who can be a better explainer than Muhammad (peace be upon him), upon whose words they will believe? From the next verse, it is understood that the real reason for their not believing is their arrogance and rebellion, which do not allow them to reflect and contemplate.
➋ {وَّ اَنْ عَسٰۤى اَنْ يَّكُوْنَ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ اَجَلُهُمْ:} And have they not thought that perhaps their appointed time has drawn very near, that is, no one knows the appointed time of death; a person should at least keep examining his beliefs and actions with the understanding that perhaps the moment of his death has come near, but these unfortunate ones do not even understand this much.
➌ The invitation to reflection and contemplation is proof that the excuse of blind following will be of no use on the Day of Judgment.
➍ { فَبِاَيِّ حَدِيْثٍۭ بَعْدَهٗ يُؤْمِنُوْنَ:} That is, what greater miracle can there be than the Qur'an, and in which book can there be better advice than this, and who can be a better explainer than Muhammad (peace be upon him), upon whose words they will believe? From the next verse, it is understood that the real reason for their not believing is their arrogance and rebellion, which do not allow them to reflect and contemplate.
