سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 51
قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ ٱلْقُرُونِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿51﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[Fir‘aun (Pharaoh)] said: "What about the generations of old?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
فَمَا
famā
Then what
بَالُ
bālu
(is the) case
ٱلْقُرُونِ
l-qurūni
(of) the generations
ٱلْأُولَىٰ
l-ūlā
(of) the former
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.
51. Pharaoh said, "Then what about the former generations [33]?"
[33]
Pharaoh’s Second Question: What is the State of the Previous Nations?
After being left speechless from this angle, Pharaoh asked a second question, which was based on his extreme malice. Through this, he wanted to incite all his subjects against these messengers and create religious prejudice among them. His question was: If the situation is such that those who accept the message of monotheism and prophethood that you have brought will have peace and security, and those who do not believe in this message will receive a painful punishment, then tell me, what is the state of our forefathers who have already passed away?
[33]
Pharaoh’s Second Question: What is the State of the Previous Nations?
After being left speechless from this angle, Pharaoh asked a second question, which was based on his extreme malice. Through this, he wanted to incite all his subjects against these messengers and create religious prejudice among them. His question was: If the situation is such that those who accept the message of monotheism and prophethood that you have brought will have peace and security, and those who do not believe in this message will receive a painful punishment, then tell me, what is the state of our forefathers who have already passed away?
