سُوْرَةُ هُوْدٍ
Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 31
وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزْدَرِىٓ أَعْيُنُكُمْ لَن يُؤْتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ خَيْرًا ۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ إِنِّىٓ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿31﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"And I do not say to you that with me are the Treasures of Allâh, nor that I know the Ghaib (Unseen), nor do I say I am an angel, and I do not say of those whom your eyes look down upon that Allâh will not bestow any good on them. Allâh knows what is in their inner-selves (as regards belief, etc.). In that case, I should, indeed be one of the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, oppressors)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَآ
walā
And not
أَقُولُ
aqūlu
I say
لَكُمْ
lakum
to you
عِندِى
ʿindī
(that) with me
خَزَآئِنُ
khazāinu
(are the) treasures
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَلَآ
walā
and not
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
I know
ٱلْغَيْبَ
l-ghayba
the unseen
وَلَآ
walā
and not
أَقُولُ
aqūlu
I say
إِنِّى
innī
that I am
مَلَكٌۭ
malakun
an Angel
وَلَآ
walā
and not
أَقُولُ
aqūlu
I say
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
for those whom
تَزْدَرِىٓ
tazdarī
look down upon
أَعْيُنُكُمْ
aʿyunukum
your eyes
لَن
lan
never
يُؤْتِيَهُمُ
yu'tiyahumu
will Allah give them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
will Allah give them
خَيْرًا ۖ
khayran
any good
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
knows best
بِمَا
bimā
what
فِىٓ
fī
(is) in
أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ
anfusihim
their souls
إِنِّىٓ
innī
Indeed, I
إِذًۭا
idhan
then
لَّمِنَ
lamina
(will be) surely of
ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
l-ẓālimīna
the wrongdoers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
31. I do not say to you that I possess the treasures [38] of Allah, nor do I claim to know the unseen, nor do I say that I am an angel, nor do I say about those whom you look down upon that Allah will never grant them any good. Allah knows best what is in their hearts. If I were to say anything otherwise, then surely I would be among the wrongdoers.
[38]
Refutation of the Ignorant Standard of Truthfulness:
For ignorant deniers of the truth, the standards of a prophet’s truthfulness are of a strange kind. For example, that he should frequently perform supernatural acts, i.e., miracles; that if he casts a glance of favor upon dust, it should turn into gold; that he should be able to tell who committed a certain theft at a certain time; that he should not be a seeker of worldly things, meaning he should not eat, drink, walk about like ordinary people, or marry, etc.; rather, he should have no interest in the world at all. In this verse, this ignorant standard of truthfulness has been refuted. Through the tongue of Noah ؑ, a clear decision regarding such demands of the disbelievers has been announced: I make no such claims whatsoever. I do not possess the treasures of Allah that if I cast a glance of favor upon dust or stone, it would turn into gold. I do not know the unseen, that I could tell you what thought is coming into your heart at this moment, or that such-and-such theft was committed by such-and-such person at such-and-such time and in such-and-such manner, and now the stolen goods are hidden at such-and-such place. Nor do I claim that I am an angel, that I would have no need for food and drink or be free from other human needs. Also, regarding those people whom you consider insignificant, I do not know anything about their future; however, I do expect that, because of the path they are on, Allah Almighty will grant them knowledge, wisdom, and other goodness, but I cannot say this with certainty, because I do not know the unseen. It should be clear that we too have attached similar standards to the saints of religion, whereas those who display such things with a claim are magicians, not friends of Allah.
[38]
Refutation of the Ignorant Standard of Truthfulness:
For ignorant deniers of the truth, the standards of a prophet’s truthfulness are of a strange kind. For example, that he should frequently perform supernatural acts, i.e., miracles; that if he casts a glance of favor upon dust, it should turn into gold; that he should be able to tell who committed a certain theft at a certain time; that he should not be a seeker of worldly things, meaning he should not eat, drink, walk about like ordinary people, or marry, etc.; rather, he should have no interest in the world at all. In this verse, this ignorant standard of truthfulness has been refuted. Through the tongue of Noah ؑ, a clear decision regarding such demands of the disbelievers has been announced: I make no such claims whatsoever. I do not possess the treasures of Allah that if I cast a glance of favor upon dust or stone, it would turn into gold. I do not know the unseen, that I could tell you what thought is coming into your heart at this moment, or that such-and-such theft was committed by such-and-such person at such-and-such time and in such-and-such manner, and now the stolen goods are hidden at such-and-such place. Nor do I claim that I am an angel, that I would have no need for food and drink or be free from other human needs. Also, regarding those people whom you consider insignificant, I do not know anything about their future; however, I do expect that, because of the path they are on, Allah Almighty will grant them knowledge, wisdom, and other goodness, but I cannot say this with certainty, because I do not know the unseen. It should be clear that we too have attached similar standards to the saints of religion, whereas those who display such things with a claim are magicians, not friends of Allah.
