سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 20
يَكَادُ ٱلْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْا۟ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا۟ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿20﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. And if Allâh willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allâh has power over all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَكَادُ
yakādu
Almost
ٱلْبَرْقُ
l-barqu
the lightning
يَخْطَفُ
yakhṭafu
snatches away
أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ ۖ
abṣārahum
their sight
كُلَّمَآ
kullamā
Whenever
أَضَآءَ
aḍāa
it flashes
لَهُم
lahum
for them
مَّشَوْا۟
mashaw
they walk
فِيهِ
fīhi
in it
وَإِذَآ
wa-idhā
and when
أَظْلَمَ
aẓlama
it darkens
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
on them
قَامُوا۟ ۚ
qāmū
they stand (still)
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
شَآءَ
shāa
had willed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
لَذَهَبَ
ladhahaba
He would certainly have taken away
بِسَمْعِهِمْ
bisamʿihim
their hearing
وَأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ ۚ
wa-abṣārihim
and their sight
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
(is) on
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
قَدِيرٌۭ
qadīrun
All-Powerful
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.
20. (Their condition is such that) soon the lightning will snatch away their sight. Whenever it flashes and gives them some light, they walk on, but when darkness falls, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could take away their hearing and their sight [25], for Allah is surely capable of all things.
The Example of the Hypocrites (2):
This is the example of another type of hypocrites. The first type of hypocrites were those whose hearts were filled entirely with disbelief, but for the sake of self-interest, they claimed Islam in front of the Muslims. This second type refers to those hypocrites who are victims of doubt and hesitation. In this example, the heavy rain refers to the revelation of Islamic commandments, which were being sent down continuously and were nothing but mercy for all of humanity. The darkness and thunder in this example refer to the hardships and difficulties that Muslims faced in the process of establishing the religion, and the lightning refers to the successes and victories that Muslims were achieving. Now, whenever a thunderous sound or calamity befell the Muslims, these hypocrites, in order to save their own lives, would separate themselves from the Muslims and begin to take protective measures. However, even in this situation, Allah has full power to destroy them, and the success of the Muslims and their separation from the Muslims could itself become the cause of their death. Then, when the situation became a bit easier and the hardships were lifted, these people would advance towards Islam, and when any strict commandments were revealed, they would stop right there, standing still. And if Allah had willed, He could have seized their sight and hearing just like the first type of hypocrites. But Allah’s law is that a person is allowed to see and hear to the extent that he wishes to see and hear, even though Allah is capable of everything.
The Example of the Hypocrites (2):
This is the example of another type of hypocrites. The first type of hypocrites were those whose hearts were filled entirely with disbelief, but for the sake of self-interest, they claimed Islam in front of the Muslims. This second type refers to those hypocrites who are victims of doubt and hesitation. In this example, the heavy rain refers to the revelation of Islamic commandments, which were being sent down continuously and were nothing but mercy for all of humanity. The darkness and thunder in this example refer to the hardships and difficulties that Muslims faced in the process of establishing the religion, and the lightning refers to the successes and victories that Muslims were achieving. Now, whenever a thunderous sound or calamity befell the Muslims, these hypocrites, in order to save their own lives, would separate themselves from the Muslims and begin to take protective measures. However, even in this situation, Allah has full power to destroy them, and the success of the Muslims and their separation from the Muslims could itself become the cause of their death. Then, when the situation became a bit easier and the hardships were lifted, these people would advance towards Islam, and when any strict commandments were revealed, they would stop right there, standing still. And if Allah had willed, He could have seized their sight and hearing just like the first type of hypocrites. But Allah’s law is that a person is allowed to see and hear to the extent that he wishes to see and hear, even though Allah is capable of everything.
