سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 33
وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنتَ فِيهِمْ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ ﴿33﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And Allâh would not punish them while you (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allâh’s) Forgiveness.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
But not
كَانَ
kāna
is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
(for) Allah
لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ
liyuʿadhibahum
that He punishes them
وَأَنتَ
wa-anta
while you
فِيهِمْ ۚ
fīhim
(are) among them
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كَانَ
kāna
is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
مُعَذِّبَهُمْ
muʿadhibahum
the One Who punishes them
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
yastaghfirūna
seek forgiveness
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 33) ➊ {وَ مَا كَانَ اللّٰهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَ اَنْتَ فِيْهِمْ:} That is, as long as you are present among them, Allah will never send punishment upon them, because it is His principle that He does not send punishment upon any nation as long as their messenger and the believers remain among them. Thus, the incidents of Nuh, Hud, Salih, and Lut (peace be upon them) are before us. Regarding the people of Lut, it is said: «{ فَاَخْرَجْنَا مَنْ كَانَ فِيْهَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ }» [ الذاریات : ۳۵ ] "We brought out from that town every believer." Similarly, Nuh (peace be upon him) was commanded to seat all the believers in the ark, then the punishment began to increase. See Surah Hud (40) and Surah Al-Mu’minun (27).
➋ {وَ مَا كَانَ اللّٰهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ … :} That is, this is also Allah’s principle that as long as a nation continues to repent for its sins and seek forgiveness, He does not destroy it. Here it is said: "While they seek forgiveness." There are two interpretations of this that are more reliable. One is that even after the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated, some Muslims were compelled to remain in Makkah, and they continued to seek forgiveness from their Lord; due to the blessing of their seeking forgiveness, punishment did not come upon the people of Makkah, as mentioned elsewhere: «{ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُوْا لَعَذَّبْنَا الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا اَلِيْمًا }» [ الفتح : ۲۵ ] "If they (the believers and disbelievers) had been separated, We would certainly have punished those among them who disbelieved with a painful punishment." The second interpretation is that among them, according to Allah’s knowledge, there were such people who would become Muslims in the future and would seek forgiveness from Allah, so such a punishment could not come upon them that would completely destroy everyone. This interpretation is also indicated in Surah Al-Fath (25): «{ لِيُدْخِلَ اللّٰهُ فِيْ رَحْمَتِهٖ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ }» "So that Allah may admit into His mercy whom He wills."
➋ {وَ مَا كَانَ اللّٰهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ … :} That is, this is also Allah’s principle that as long as a nation continues to repent for its sins and seek forgiveness, He does not destroy it. Here it is said: "While they seek forgiveness." There are two interpretations of this that are more reliable. One is that even after the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated, some Muslims were compelled to remain in Makkah, and they continued to seek forgiveness from their Lord; due to the blessing of their seeking forgiveness, punishment did not come upon the people of Makkah, as mentioned elsewhere: «{ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُوْا لَعَذَّبْنَا الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا اَلِيْمًا }» [ الفتح : ۲۵ ] "If they (the believers and disbelievers) had been separated, We would certainly have punished those among them who disbelieved with a painful punishment." The second interpretation is that among them, according to Allah’s knowledge, there were such people who would become Muslims in the future and would seek forgiveness from Allah, so such a punishment could not come upon them that would completely destroy everyone. This interpretation is also indicated in Surah Al-Fath (25): «{ لِيُدْخِلَ اللّٰهُ فِيْ رَحْمَتِهٖ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ }» "So that Allah may admit into His mercy whom He wills."
