سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 44
بَلْ مَتَّعْنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ طَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْعُمُرُ ۗ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّا نَأْتِى ٱلْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَآ ۚ أَفَهُمُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ ﴿44﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Nay, We gave the luxuries of this life to these men and their fathers until the period grew long for them. See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? Is it then they who will overcome?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
بَلْ
bal
Nay
مَتَّعْنَا
mattaʿnā
We gave provision
هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ
hāulāi
(to) these
وَءَابَآءَهُمْ
waābāahum
and their fathers
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
طَالَ
ṭāla
grew long
عَلَيْهِمُ
ʿalayhimu
for them
ٱلْعُمُرُ ۗ
l-ʿumuru
the life
أَفَلَا
afalā
Then do not
يَرَوْنَ
yarawna
they see
أَنَّا
annā
that We
نَأْتِى
natī
We come
ٱلْأَرْضَ
l-arḍa
(to) the land
نَنقُصُهَا
nanquṣuhā
We reduce it
مِنْ
min
from
أَطْرَافِهَآ ۚ
aṭrāfihā
its borders
أَفَهُمُ
afahumu
So is (it) they
ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ
l-ghālibūna
(who will be) overcoming
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.
44. In fact, We allowed them and their forefathers to enjoy life for a long period [39]. Do they not see that We are gradually reducing their land from its borders? Will they then be the victors [40]?
[39]
Prosperity Makes Man Negligent of Allah:
That is, the condition of these Quraysh of Makkah is such that no period of hardship has come upon them for a long time. Due to their custodianship of the Ka'bah, they are honored throughout Arabia. No tribe dares to rob their trade caravans. Rather, any caravan to which they grant a travel permit is also safe and secure from looting. Because of their trade journeys in winter and summer, they are earning great wealth and are well-off. This very prosperity has made them heedless of Allah and His remembrance. Now their minds cannot be set right until they taste the punishment of Allah.
[40]
The Meaning of Reducing the Land:
These people are seeing with their own eyes that despite all their schemes and efforts to stop Islam, Islam is increasing and spreading day by day, and as Islam spreads, their own living space is automatically becoming restricted, and their troubles are continuously increasing. The second meaning is that wherever Islam has arrived, disbelief has departed, and the land of disbelief has diminished. And this process will continue: the territory or land of disbelief will keep shrinking, contracting, and diminishing, and the land of Islam will keep expanding. This has already begun. Even after seeing all this, are they still under the illusion that they will succeed in suppressing Islam and that, in the end, their dominance will prevail?
[39]
Prosperity Makes Man Negligent of Allah:
That is, the condition of these Quraysh of Makkah is such that no period of hardship has come upon them for a long time. Due to their custodianship of the Ka'bah, they are honored throughout Arabia. No tribe dares to rob their trade caravans. Rather, any caravan to which they grant a travel permit is also safe and secure from looting. Because of their trade journeys in winter and summer, they are earning great wealth and are well-off. This very prosperity has made them heedless of Allah and His remembrance. Now their minds cannot be set right until they taste the punishment of Allah.
[40]
The Meaning of Reducing the Land:
These people are seeing with their own eyes that despite all their schemes and efforts to stop Islam, Islam is increasing and spreading day by day, and as Islam spreads, their own living space is automatically becoming restricted, and their troubles are continuously increasing. The second meaning is that wherever Islam has arrived, disbelief has departed, and the land of disbelief has diminished. And this process will continue: the territory or land of disbelief will keep shrinking, contracting, and diminishing, and the land of Islam will keep expanding. This has already begun. Even after seeing all this, are they still under the illusion that they will succeed in suppressing Islam and that, in the end, their dominance will prevail?
