سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 36
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ﴿36﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
بَعَثْنَا
baʿathnā
We sent
فِى
fī
into
كُلِّ
kulli
every
أُمَّةٍۢ
ummatin
nation
رَّسُولًا
rasūlan
a Messenger
أَنِ
ani
that
ٱعْبُدُوا۟
uʿ'budū
Worship
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟
wa-ij'tanibū
and avoid
ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ
l-ṭāghūta
the false deities
فَمِنْهُم
famin'hum
Then among them
مَّنْ
man
(were some) whom
هَدَى
hadā
Allah guided
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah guided
وَمِنْهُم
wamin'hum
and among them
مَّنْ
man
(were) some
حَقَّتْ
ḥaqqat
was justified
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
on them
ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ ۚ
l-ḍalālatu
the straying
فَسِيرُوا۟
fasīrū
So travel
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
فَٱنظُرُوا۟
fa-unẓurū
and see
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
كَانَ
kāna
was
عَـٰقِبَةُ
ʿāqibatu
the end
ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
l-mukadhibīna
(of) the deniers
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.
36. We sent a messenger to every community (saying): "Worship Allah and avoid the false gods [36]." Then among them were some whom Allah guided, and among them were some upon whom misguidance was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied [37].
[36]
The Meaning of Taghut:
Taghut can be applied to any person, institution, king, or government that is disobedient to Allah and whom people are compelled to obey. Such a person, institution, or king is a rebel against Allah and wants to impose his will upon those under his influence, and this is exactly what Satan does. Therefore, this word is often translated as "Satan." And if a person, disregarding the commands of Allah, begins to follow his own desires, then the term Taghut can also be applied to his own self.
[37]
Reminder of the Days of Allah:
Whenever a messenger was sent to his people and he invited them to worship Allah and obey him, his people would split into two groups: those who believed and those who rejected the invitation. Now, do not merely rely on history or hearsay from people. Rather, go and see for yourself, examine the circumstances, and observe whether the punishment of Allah did not befall those who denied the message of the prophets. The people of 'Ad, Thamud, the people of Nuh, the people of Lut, the companions of Madyan, and the people of Pharaoh—all these nations used to live around you. And it is easy for you to go there and see their fate. Moreover, this did not happen just once or twice; rather, from all the nations whose circumstances you can learn about, the same conclusion emerges. Can you still not take any lesson from these continuous historical testimonies? And can you not think that if we also deny our messenger, our fate could be the same?
[36]
The Meaning of Taghut:
Taghut can be applied to any person, institution, king, or government that is disobedient to Allah and whom people are compelled to obey. Such a person, institution, or king is a rebel against Allah and wants to impose his will upon those under his influence, and this is exactly what Satan does. Therefore, this word is often translated as "Satan." And if a person, disregarding the commands of Allah, begins to follow his own desires, then the term Taghut can also be applied to his own self.
[37]
Reminder of the Days of Allah:
Whenever a messenger was sent to his people and he invited them to worship Allah and obey him, his people would split into two groups: those who believed and those who rejected the invitation. Now, do not merely rely on history or hearsay from people. Rather, go and see for yourself, examine the circumstances, and observe whether the punishment of Allah did not befall those who denied the message of the prophets. The people of 'Ad, Thamud, the people of Nuh, the people of Lut, the companions of Madyan, and the people of Pharaoh—all these nations used to live around you. And it is easy for you to go there and see their fate. Moreover, this did not happen just once or twice; rather, from all the nations whose circumstances you can learn about, the same conclusion emerges. Can you still not take any lesson from these continuous historical testimonies? And can you not think that if we also deny our messenger, our fate could be the same?
