سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 17
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allâh took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَثَلُهُمْ
mathaluhum
Their example
كَمَثَلِ
kamathali
(is) like (the) example
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(of) the one who
ٱسْتَوْقَدَ
is'tawqada
kindled
نَارًۭا
nāran
a fire
فَلَمَّآ
falammā
then, when
أَضَآءَتْ
aḍāat
it illuminated
مَا
mā
what
حَوْلَهُۥ
ḥawlahu
(was) around him
ذَهَبَ
dhahaba
took away
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِنُورِهِمْ
binūrihim
their light
وَتَرَكَهُمْ
watarakahum
and left them
فِى
fī
in
ظُلُمَـٰتٍۢ
ẓulumātin
darkness[es]
لَّا
lā
(so) not
يُبْصِرُونَ
yub'ṣirūna
(do) they see
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.
17. The example of these hypocrites is like that of a person who kindled a fire; when it illuminated all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness, so they could not see [23].
[23]
The Example of the Hypocrites (1):
In this verse, Allah Almighty has described the condition of the hypocrites. The one who kindles the fire here is none other than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who illuminated the lamp of Islam in the darkness of disbelief and misguidance, and clearly distinguished truth from falsehood, right from wrong, and the straight path from the paths of deviation. Now, those people (the true believers) who possessed insightful vision began to see everything clearly. But these hypocrites, who had become blind due to their self-interest, could not see anything even in this light. Allah Almighty has described their remaining blind in this way with the verse ﴿ ذَهَبَ اللّٰهُ بِنُوْرِهِمْ ﴾, and its attribution to Allah is just like in verse ﴿خَتَمَ اللّٰهُ عَليٰ قُلُوْبِهِمْ وَعَليٰ سَمْعِهِمْ﴾, which we have already explained. The meaning is that since the hypocrites themselves were not willing to see the light of truth, Allah also left them wandering in darkness. Allah's law is never to force anyone to accept guidance; rather, His law is that wherever a person chooses to go, Allah helps him to proceed in that direction.
[23]
The Example of the Hypocrites (1):
In this verse, Allah Almighty has described the condition of the hypocrites. The one who kindles the fire here is none other than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who illuminated the lamp of Islam in the darkness of disbelief and misguidance, and clearly distinguished truth from falsehood, right from wrong, and the straight path from the paths of deviation. Now, those people (the true believers) who possessed insightful vision began to see everything clearly. But these hypocrites, who had become blind due to their self-interest, could not see anything even in this light. Allah Almighty has described their remaining blind in this way with the verse ﴿ ذَهَبَ اللّٰهُ بِنُوْرِهِمْ ﴾, and its attribution to Allah is just like in verse ﴿خَتَمَ اللّٰهُ عَليٰ قُلُوْبِهِمْ وَعَليٰ سَمْعِهِمْ﴾, which we have already explained. The meaning is that since the hypocrites themselves were not willing to see the light of truth, Allah also left them wandering in darkness. Allah's law is never to force anyone to accept guidance; rather, His law is that wherever a person chooses to go, Allah helps him to proceed in that direction.
