سُوْرَةُ النَّبَاِ
Surah An-Naba (78) — Ayah 40
إِنَّآ أَنذَرْنَـٰكُمْ عَذَابًا قَرِيبًا يَوْمَ يَنظُرُ ٱلْمَرْءُ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ وَيَقُولُ ٱلْكَافِرُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى كُنتُ تُرَٰبًۢا ﴿40﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, We have warned you of a near torment - the Day when man will see that (the deeds) which his hands have sent forth, and the disbeliever will say: "Woe to me! Would that I were dust!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed We
أَنذَرْنَـٰكُمْ
andharnākum
[We] have warned you
عَذَابًۭا
ʿadhāban
(of) a punishment
قَرِيبًۭا
qarīban
near
يَوْمَ
yawma
(the) Day
يَنظُرُ
yanẓuru
will see
ٱلْمَرْءُ
l-maru
the man
مَا
mā
what
قَدَّمَتْ
qaddamat
have sent forth
يَدَاهُ
yadāhu
his hands
وَيَقُولُ
wayaqūlu
and will say
ٱلْكَافِرُ
l-kāfiru
the disbeliever
يَـٰلَيْتَنِى
yālaytanī
O I wish
كُنتُ
kuntu
I were
تُرَٰبًۢا
turāban
dust
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 40) ➊ {اِنَّاۤ اَنْذَرْنٰكُمْ عَذَابًا قَرِيْبًا … :} The punishment of the Hereafter has been described as near, because no matter how long a lifespan is, it is bound to end, and every coming time is near. When they are resurrected on the Day of Judgment, the time they spent in the world will seem to them as if only a part of a day had passed. (See An-Nazi'at: 46) In fact, on the Day of Judgment, the criminals will swear and say that they did not remain in the world for more than an hour. See Surah Ar-Rum (55).
➋ { يٰلَيْتَنِيْ كُنْتُ تُرٰبًا :} Oh, would that I were dust, meaning I wish I had never been created, so there would be no reckoning or account. The second meaning is that I wish I would become dust after death, so there would be no reckoning or punishment. Some commentators have given a strange meaning that {’’ الْكٰفِرُ ‘‘} here refers to Iblis. When Adam (peace be upon him) and his descendants are rewarded for their deeds, Iblis will say, "I wish I were dust, and not created from fire," because he refused the command to prostrate to Adam due to being created from fire. (Zad al-Masir by Ibn al-Jawzi) This meaning can also be included along with the previous ones.
➋ { يٰلَيْتَنِيْ كُنْتُ تُرٰبًا :} Oh, would that I were dust, meaning I wish I had never been created, so there would be no reckoning or account. The second meaning is that I wish I would become dust after death, so there would be no reckoning or punishment. Some commentators have given a strange meaning that {’’ الْكٰفِرُ ‘‘} here refers to Iblis. When Adam (peace be upon him) and his descendants are rewarded for their deeds, Iblis will say, "I wish I were dust, and not created from fire," because he refused the command to prostrate to Adam due to being created from fire. (Zad al-Masir by Ibn al-Jawzi) This meaning can also be included along with the previous ones.
