سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 54
وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَكْثَرَ شَىْءٍ جَدَلًا ﴿54﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We have put forth every kind of example in this Qur’ân, for mankind. But, man is ever more quarrelsome than anything.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
صَرَّفْنَا
ṣarrafnā
We have explained
فِى
fī
in
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
this
ٱلْقُرْءَانِ
l-qur'āni
the Quran
لِلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for mankind
مِن
min
of
كُلِّ
kulli
every
مَثَلٍۢ ۚ
mathalin
example
وَكَانَ
wakāna
But is
ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ
l-insānu
the man
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
(in) most
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
things
جَدَلًۭا
jadalan
quarrelsome
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.
54. And We have certainly explained in this Qur’an every kind of example for people, but man is, in most things [52], the most argumentative.
[52]
Man is by nature argumentative. Using Divine Will as an Excuse:
Many arguments appealing to man's intellect and heart have been presented in various ways and in an appealing manner for his guidance, but man is so argumentative and stubborn by nature that if he decides not to accept something, he can raise all sorts of objections to it. He can present false arguments and excuses. He can change the subject entirely and give an irrelevant answer, but he does not accept the truth. And this disposition is not only found in stubborn, obstinate, and criminal types of people, but sometimes even a righteous believer, in order to prove himself justified, finds some excuse. Thus, Sayyiduna Aliؓ says that one night the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to our house and, addressing both of us (me and Fatimah), said, "Why do you not perform the Tahajjud prayer?" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, our souls are in Allah's hand; if He wills that we get up, we will get up." Upon hearing this, he ﷺ immediately turned back and, placing his hand on his thigh, said: ﴿ وَكَانَ الْاِنْسَانُ اَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا﴾ [بخاري، كتاب التهجد۔ باب تحريض النبى على قيام الليل والنوافل]
It is as if Sayyiduna Aliؓ, instead of admitting his fault, presented the excuse of Divine Will and did not pay attention to the choice that he and every human being has been granted.
[52]
Man is by nature argumentative. Using Divine Will as an Excuse:
Many arguments appealing to man's intellect and heart have been presented in various ways and in an appealing manner for his guidance, but man is so argumentative and stubborn by nature that if he decides not to accept something, he can raise all sorts of objections to it. He can present false arguments and excuses. He can change the subject entirely and give an irrelevant answer, but he does not accept the truth. And this disposition is not only found in stubborn, obstinate, and criminal types of people, but sometimes even a righteous believer, in order to prove himself justified, finds some excuse. Thus, Sayyiduna Aliؓ says that one night the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to our house and, addressing both of us (me and Fatimah), said, "Why do you not perform the Tahajjud prayer?" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, our souls are in Allah's hand; if He wills that we get up, we will get up." Upon hearing this, he ﷺ immediately turned back and, placing his hand on his thigh, said: ﴿ وَكَانَ الْاِنْسَانُ اَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا﴾ [بخاري، كتاب التهجد۔ باب تحريض النبى على قيام الليل والنوافل]
It is as if Sayyiduna Aliؓ, instead of admitting his fault, presented the excuse of Divine Will and did not pay attention to the choice that he and every human being has been granted.
