سُوْرَةُ الْعَلَقِ
Surah Al-Alaq (96) — Ayah 15
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ ﴿15﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Nay! If he (Abû Jahl) ceases not, We will catch him by the forelock -
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
كَلَّا
kallā
Nay
لَئِن
la-in
If
لَّمْ
lam
not
يَنتَهِ
yantahi
he desists
لَنَسْفَعًۢا
lanasfaʿan
surely We will drag him
بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ
bil-nāṣiyati
by the forelock
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 15 to 18) ➊ {كَلَّا لَىِٕنْ لَّمْ يَنْتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا …: ’’ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ ‘‘} He did not desist. {’’اِنْتَهٰي يَنْتَهِيْ اِنْتِهَاءً‘‘} (Iftiaal) indicates negation in the active voice. {’’ يَنْتَهِ ‘‘} Originally it was {’’يَنْتَهِيْ‘‘}, due to the jasm letter {’’ لَمْ ‘‘}, the ya was dropped. {’’ لَنَسْفَعًا‘‘} is originally {’’لَنَسْفَعَنْ‘‘}, which is the first person plural present indicative with the light emphatic nun from {’’سَفَعَ يَسْفَعُ‘‘} (fa) (to drag forcefully). Since in the state of pause, the light emphatic nun is replaced with "alif," just as the nunation is replaced with "alif," therefore, like the nunation in {’’خَبِيْرًا ‘‘} and {’’ بَصِيْرًا‘‘}, it is also written in the form of {’’ لَنَسْفَعًا ‘‘} instead of {’’لَنَسْفَعَنْ‘‘}, and in this, the Mushaf of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) has been followed. {’’ وَ لَيَكُوْنًا مِّنَ الصّٰغِرِيْنَ ‘‘} is also like this. For details, see the commentary of Surah Yusuf, Ayah (32).
{’’اَلنَّاصِيَةُ ‘‘} The hair at the front part of the head is called "nasiyah." {’’ الزَّبَانِيَةَ ‘‘ ’’ زِبْنِيَّةٌ ‘‘} is its plural. The Arab police officer is called {’’زِبْنِيَّةٌ ‘‘}. This is derived from {’’زَبَنَ يَزْبِنُ زَبْنًا‘‘} (daad), which means "to remove, to push." Since the officer, when angry with someone, has the soldier push him out, they are called "zabaniyah." Here, the angels of Hell are meant, that if he does not desist, they will push him out, rather, they will tear him to pieces.
➋ Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that Abu Jahl said: "Does Muhammad (peace be upon him) put his face on the ground while you are present?" It was said: "Yes!" Abu Jahl said: "By Lat and Uzza! If I see him doing so, I will trample his neck, or I will smear his face with dust." So he came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) while he was praying. His intention was to trample his neck, but suddenly people saw that he was retreating on his heels and shielding himself with both hands from something. He was asked: "What happened to you?" He said: "Between me and him there is a trench of fire, a terrifying sight, and wings." So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said [لَوْ دَنَا مِنِّيْ لاَخْتَطَفَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عُضْوًا عُضْوًا ] [مسلم، صفات المنافقین، باب قولہ : «إن الإنسان لیطغٰی…» : ۲۷۹۷ ] "If he had come near me, the angels would have snatched him limb by limb."
{’’اَلنَّاصِيَةُ ‘‘} The hair at the front part of the head is called "nasiyah." {’’ الزَّبَانِيَةَ ‘‘ ’’ زِبْنِيَّةٌ ‘‘} is its plural. The Arab police officer is called {’’زِبْنِيَّةٌ ‘‘}. This is derived from {’’زَبَنَ يَزْبِنُ زَبْنًا‘‘} (daad), which means "to remove, to push." Since the officer, when angry with someone, has the soldier push him out, they are called "zabaniyah." Here, the angels of Hell are meant, that if he does not desist, they will push him out, rather, they will tear him to pieces.
➋ Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that Abu Jahl said: "Does Muhammad (peace be upon him) put his face on the ground while you are present?" It was said: "Yes!" Abu Jahl said: "By Lat and Uzza! If I see him doing so, I will trample his neck, or I will smear his face with dust." So he came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) while he was praying. His intention was to trample his neck, but suddenly people saw that he was retreating on his heels and shielding himself with both hands from something. He was asked: "What happened to you?" He said: "Between me and him there is a trench of fire, a terrifying sight, and wings." So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said [لَوْ دَنَا مِنِّيْ لاَخْتَطَفَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عُضْوًا عُضْوًا ] [مسلم، صفات المنافقین، باب قولہ : «إن الإنسان لیطغٰی…» : ۲۷۹۷ ] "If he had come near me, the angels would have snatched him limb by limb."
