سُوْرَةُ الدَّهْرِ
Surah Al-Insaan (76) — Ayah 30
وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿30﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But you cannot will, unless Allâh wills. Verily, Allâh is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
تَشَآءُونَ
tashāūna
you will
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَن
an
that
يَشَآءَ
yashāa
wills
ٱللَّهُ ۚ
l-lahu
Allah
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
عَلِيمًا
ʿalīman
All-Knower
حَكِيمًۭا
ḥakīman
All-Wise
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 30) {وَ مَا تَشَآءُوْنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ يَّشَآءَ اللّٰهُ … :} But your willing is subject to Allah’s willing; if He does not will, nothing can happen. Umar bin Abdul Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) refuted the deniers of predestination with this very verse. A group of Khawarij came to him and, as evidence for denying predestination, recited this verse from the beginning of this Surah: « اِنَّا هَدَيْنٰهُ السَّبِيْلَ اِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَّ اِمَّا كَفُوْرًا » [ الدھر : ۳ ] “That is, We have shown man the way, now if he wants, he may become grateful, and if he wants, he may become ungrateful.” Umar bin Abdul Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) said, keep reading, and when this verse came at the end, he said, indeed, man may choose whichever path he wants, but this choice too is subject to Allah’s will. No one can become righteous or wicked by overpowering Allah. {’’ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلِيْمًا حَكِيْمًا ‘‘} That is, Allah’s will is not a blind will, rather He is All-Knowing and Wise, and His will is based on His knowledge and wisdom. He guides only those who, according to His knowledge and wisdom, are worthy of it.
