سُوْرَةُ الْمَعَارِجِ
Surah Al-Ma'aarij (70) — Ayah 1
سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
سَأَلَ
sa-ala
Asked
سَآئِلٌۢ
sāilun
a questioner
بِعَذَابٍۢ
biʿadhābin
about a punishment
وَاقِعٍۢ
wāqiʿin
bound to happen
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 2,1) ➊ { سَاَلَ سَآىِٕلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍ وَّاقِعٍ… :} There can be two meanings of this: one is that a questioner has asked about the punishment (as to when it will come?). In this case, “baa” will mean {’’عَنْ‘‘}, and the intent is that blasphemous question which they used to repeatedly ask in order to deny and mock the punishment. As Allah Almighty has said: « وَ يَقُوْلُوْنَ مَتٰى هٰذَا الْوَعْدُ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صٰدِقِيْنَ» [ الملک : ۲۵ ] “And they say, ‘When will this promise (of punishment) be fulfilled, if you are truthful?’” The second meaning is that a demander has asked for the punishment. By this is meant the supplication of the rebellious disbelievers in which they requested Allah Almighty, “O Allah! If what Muhammad (peace be upon him) has brought is the truth, then rain down stones upon us from the sky, or bring upon us a painful punishment.” (See Al-Anfal: 32) And it also refers to the demand of the disbelievers which they used to make to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that bring the punishment upon us as soon as possible, as He said: « وَ يَسْتَعْجِلُوْنَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ» [ العنکبوت : ۵۳ ] “And they ask you to hasten the punishment.”
In this surah, Allah Almighty has said, the questioner asks about the punishment—when will it come? The demander demands that the punishment be brought, so know that this punishment will surely come upon the disbelievers and no one can avert it, but it will come at its appointed time. Do not, at their demand, ask for its hastening, nor show any impatience at their mockery; they consider it far off, but to Us it is very near.
➋ { لِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ لَيْسَ لَهٗ دَافِعٌ : ’’ لِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ ‘‘} Either it relates to {’’ وَاقِعٍ ‘‘}, meaning that punishment is to befall the disbelievers, and no one can avert it, or it relates to {’’ دَافِعٌ ‘‘}, meaning that no one can avert it from the disbelievers.
In this surah, Allah Almighty has said, the questioner asks about the punishment—when will it come? The demander demands that the punishment be brought, so know that this punishment will surely come upon the disbelievers and no one can avert it, but it will come at its appointed time. Do not, at their demand, ask for its hastening, nor show any impatience at their mockery; they consider it far off, but to Us it is very near.
➋ { لِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ لَيْسَ لَهٗ دَافِعٌ : ’’ لِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ ‘‘} Either it relates to {’’ وَاقِعٍ ‘‘}, meaning that punishment is to befall the disbelievers, and no one can avert it, or it relates to {’’ دَافِعٌ ‘‘}, meaning that no one can avert it from the disbelievers.
