سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 69
كَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنكُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرَ أَمْوَٰلًا وَأَوْلَـٰدًا فَٱسْتَمْتَعُوا۟ بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ فَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِخَلَـٰقِكُمْ كَمَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُم بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَٱلَّذِى خَاضُوٓا۟ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿69﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Like those before you: they were mightier than you in power, and more abundant in wealth and children. They had enjoyed their portion (awhile), so enjoy your portion (awhile) as those before you enjoyed their portion (awhile); and you indulged in play and pastime (and in telling lies against Allâh and His Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) as they indulged in play and pastime. Such are they whose deeds are in vain in this world and in the Hereafter. Such are they who are the losers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
كَٱلَّذِينَ
ka-alladhīna
Like those
مِن
min
before you
قَبْلِكُمْ
qablikum
before you
كَانُوٓا۟
kānū
they were
أَشَدَّ
ashadda
mightier
مِنكُمْ
minkum
than you
قُوَّةًۭ
quwwatan
(in) strength
وَأَكْثَرَ
wa-akthara
and more abundant
أَمْوَٰلًۭا
amwālan
(in) wealth
وَأَوْلَـٰدًۭا
wa-awlādan
and children
فَٱسْتَمْتَعُوا۟
fa-is'tamtaʿū
So they enjoyed
بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ
bikhalāqihim
their portion
فَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم
fa-is'tamtaʿtum
and you have enjoyed
بِخَلَـٰقِكُمْ
bikhalāqikum
your portion
كَمَا
kamā
like
ٱسْتَمْتَعَ
is'tamtaʿa
enjoyed
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those
مِن
min
before you
قَبْلِكُم
qablikum
before you
بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ
bikhalāqihim
their portion
وَخُضْتُمْ
wakhuḍ'tum
and you indulge
كَٱلَّذِى
ka-alladhī
like the one who
خَاضُوٓا۟ ۚ
khāḍū
indulges (in idle talk)
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
ulāika
Those
حَبِطَتْ
ḥabiṭat
worthless
أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ
aʿmāluhum
(are) their deeds
فِى
fī
in
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
the world
وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ
wal-ākhirati
and (in) the Hereafter
وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
wa-ulāika
And those
هُمُ
humu
they
ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
l-khāsirūna
(are) the losers
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.
(Ayah69) {كَالَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ … :} Previously, the hypocrites were being mentioned in the third person, but now, for further warning, Allah Almighty has addressed them directly, meaning you are also like those people and your deeds are also like those of those who disbelieved in the messengers before you. With the difference that they were stronger than you in power and much greater in wealth and children. Your resemblance to each other is in two ways: in the world, they benefited from their allotted share, and you also benefited from your share just like the people before you, and they mocked their prophets and spoke vain things about them, and you did the same. Now, in the Hereafter as well, in the loss and waste of deeds, and in being disappointed and losers, both of you are alike.
