Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Nay! Man will be a witness against himself [as his body parts (skin, hands, legs, etc.) will speak about his deeds],
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
بَلِbaliNay
ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُl-insānu[The] man
عَلَىٰʿalāagainst
نَفْسِهِۦnafsihihimself
بَصِيرَةٌۭbaṣīratun(will be) a witness
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 15,14) {بَلِالْاِنْسَانُعَلٰىنَفْسِهٖبَصِيْرَةٌ …: ’’ بَصِيْرَةٌ ‘‘ ’’بَصُرَ‘‘} (k) is a form of adjective. The "taa" is for further emphasis, as in {’’عَلَّامَةٌ‘‘}, this "taa" is not for femininity, but for strong emphasis, meaning "one who sees very well." {’’ مَعَاذِيْرَ‘‘ ’’مَعْذِرَةٌ‘‘} is the plural, meaning that on that day, the fact that a person will be informed of his earlier and later deeds does not mean that he was unaware of what he was doing; rather, the reality is that a person is well aware of himself, whether he is doing good or bad deeds. Then, in front of others, he invents countless excuses of compulsion or expediency to justify his disbelief and polytheism, disobedience to the Creator, oppression and injustice upon His creation, and following his own desires, but he himself knows very well that he is lying and making excuses. The reproach of his own soul is also evidence that he is aware of his actions. The presentation of the record of deeds is to complete the argument against him, and this argument will not be completed only through the record of deeds, but by making every single limb of his speak, and by making every part of the earth on which he committed disobedience speak as well.