سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 109
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقُلْ ءَاذَنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَآءٍ ۖ وَإِنْ أَدْرِىٓ أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ ﴿109﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But if they (disbelievers, idolaters, Jews, Christians, polytheists) turn away (from Islâmic Monotheism) say (to them O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "I give you a notice (of war as) to be known to us all alike. And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e. the torment or the Day of Resurrection) is near or far."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
تَوَلَّوْا۟
tawallaw
they turn away
فَقُلْ
faqul
then say
ءَاذَنتُكُمْ
ādhantukum
I (have) announced to you
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
equally
سَوَآءٍۢ ۖ
sawāin
equally
وَإِنْ
wa-in
And not
أَدْرِىٓ
adrī
I know
أَقَرِيبٌ
aqarībun
whether is near
أَم
am
or
بَعِيدٌۭ
baʿīdun
far
مَّا
mā
what
تُوعَدُونَ
tūʿadūna
you are promised
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.
But if they turn away, then say, "I have warned you all openly [97], and I do not know whether what you are promised is near or far."
[97] The meaning of ﴿اِذْانْتُمْ عَليٰ سَوَاءٍ﴾ is that I have warned you on equal terms. That is, you have the choice between two options: either accept my invitation, or reject it. In case of rejection, punishment will certainly come upon you, but I cannot say when that punishment will come—whether it will come soon or after some delay—because I am not the Knower of the unseen.
[97] The meaning of ﴿اِذْانْتُمْ عَليٰ سَوَاءٍ﴾ is that I have warned you on equal terms. That is, you have the choice between two options: either accept my invitation, or reject it. In case of rejection, punishment will certainly come upon you, but I cannot say when that punishment will come—whether it will come soon or after some delay—because I am not the Knower of the unseen.
