سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 28
وَإِذَا فَعَلُوا۟ فَـٰحِشَةً قَالُوا۟ وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَآ ءَابَآءَنَا وَٱللَّهُ أَمَرَنَا بِهَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿28﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when they commit a Fâhishah (evil deed, going round the Ka‘bah in naked state, and every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse), they say: "We found our fathers doing it, and Allâh has commanded it on us." Say: "Nay, Allâh never commands Fâhishah. Do you say of Allâh what you know not?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
فَعَلُوا۟
faʿalū
they do
فَـٰحِشَةًۭ
fāḥishatan
immorality
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they say
وَجَدْنَا
wajadnā
We found
عَلَيْهَآ
ʿalayhā
on it
ءَابَآءَنَا
ābāanā
our forefathers
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
and Allah
أَمَرَنَا
amaranā
(has) ordered us
بِهَا ۗ
bihā
of it
قُلْ
qul
Say
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
lā
(does) not
يَأْمُرُ
yamuru
order
بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ
bil-faḥshāi
immorality
أَتَقُولُونَ
ataqūlūna
Do you say
عَلَى
ʿalā
about
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَا
mā
what
لَا
lā
not
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
you know
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 28) ➊ {وَ اِذَا فَعَلُوْا فَاحِشَةً …… :} Here, by {’’ فَاحِشَةً ‘‘} and { ’’ بِالْفَحْشَآءِ ‘‘ }, those acts of worship are meant which they themselves invented, for example, their men and women would perform Tawaf naked, saying, “How can we perform Tawaf in the clothes in which we have sinned?” Besides this, in this verse, two excuses of the polytheists for persisting in their indecency and immorality have been mentioned: one is that they found their elders doing so, and the other is that Allah has commanded it. The first point, that they found their elders doing so, was indeed true, so its negation is not mentioned here. However, in several other verses, it has been explained that following in the footsteps of forefathers is not a valid argument. See Surah Al-Baqarah (170) and Surah Al-Ma’idah (104). Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) says: “That is, you have heard that your father was deceived by Satan, so why do you bring your father’s authority as proof?” (Mawaddih) As for the second excuse, since it was incorrect both as a fact and as an argument, its refutation is mentioned here. The meaning is that when the evil and reprehensible nature of these acts has been established through the words of the Prophets, then how is it possible that Allah would command such indecency? (Razi)
➋ { اَتَقُوْلُوْنَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ …… :} In this verse, there is also a severe warning for those who, merely considering the customs of their forefathers as religion, think that acting upon them is a source of reward, and also for those followers who are caught up in the excessive veneration of Imams, Shaykhs, or any personality cult. Whenever the truth is presented to them with evidence and they are left speechless, they say, “Did our elders not know this? Were they ignorant? Our elders have always done this, and we will also remain upon it.” This is the very trait due to which the Jews remained upon Judaism, the Christians upon Christianity, and the innovators upon innovation.
➋ { اَتَقُوْلُوْنَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ …… :} In this verse, there is also a severe warning for those who, merely considering the customs of their forefathers as religion, think that acting upon them is a source of reward, and also for those followers who are caught up in the excessive veneration of Imams, Shaykhs, or any personality cult. Whenever the truth is presented to them with evidence and they are left speechless, they say, “Did our elders not know this? Were they ignorant? Our elders have always done this, and we will also remain upon it.” This is the very trait due to which the Jews remained upon Judaism, the Christians upon Christianity, and the innovators upon innovation.
