سُوْرَةُ الدَّهْرِ
Surah Al-Insaan (76) — Ayah 28
نَّحْنُ خَلَقْنَـٰهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَآ أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَآ أَمْثَـٰلَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا ﴿28﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is We Who created them, and We have made them of strong built. And when We will, We can replace them with others like them with a complete replacement.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
نَّحْنُ
naḥnu
We
خَلَقْنَـٰهُمْ
khalaqnāhum
created them
وَشَدَدْنَآ
washadadnā
and We strengthened
أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ
asrahum
their forms
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
and when
شِئْنَا
shi'nā
We will
بَدَّلْنَآ
baddalnā
We can change
أَمْثَـٰلَهُمْ
amthālahum
their likeness[es]
تَبْدِيلًا
tabdīlan
(with) a change
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.
The meaning of (Ayah 28){ نَحْنُ خَلَقْنٰهُمْ وَ شَدَدْنَاۤ اَسْرَهُمْ … : ’’ اَسْرَهُمْ ‘‘ ’’أَسْرٌ‘‘} is "to bind." The word "aseer" (prisoner) also comes from this, meaning We have firmly bound their limbs, and the joints of bones and muscles have been made very strong. That is, these people consider resurrection after death to be against reason, but they do not think that We created them the first time, firmly binding their delicate veins, flesh, joints, and bones. So why can We not bring them back to life again? Whenever We wish, We can destroy them and bring others like them in their place, so what difficulty is there for Us in creating them? In another place, it is said: «اِنْ يَّشَاْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ اَيُّهَا النَّاسُ وَ يَاْتِ بِاٰخَرِيْنَ وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى ذٰلِكَ قَدِيْرًا » [ النساء : ۱۳۳ ] "If He wills, He can take you away and bring others, and Allah is fully capable of that." See also Surah Ibrahim (20, 19).
