سُوْرَةُ الْحَجِّ
Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 8
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَـٰبٍ مُّنِيرٍ ﴿8﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And among men is he who disputes about Allâh, without knowledge or guidance, or a Book giving light (from Allâh),
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمِنَ
wamina
And among
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
mankind
مَن
man
(is he) who
يُجَـٰدِلُ
yujādilu
disputes
فِى
fī
concerning
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
بِغَيْرِ
bighayri
without
عِلْمٍۢ
ʿil'min
any knowledge
وَلَا
walā
and not
هُدًۭى
hudan
any guidance
وَلَا
walā
and not
كِتَـٰبٍۢ
kitābin
a Book
مُّنِيرٍۢ
munīrin
enlightening
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.
8. And among people are some who argue about Allah without knowledge [8], guidance, or an enlightening Book.
[8]
What is Self-Evident Knowledge?
In this verse, the application of the word "knowledge" in the Shari'ah language generally refers to divine revelation, but here, knowledge means natural, innate, or self-evident knowledge that every human being possesses. For example, that every living being needs food and drink for the survival of its life, or that two and two make four, or that the whole is always connected to its part, or that whatever is thrown into fire, the fire burns it—these are matters for which no rational or transmitted proof is needed. Nor does anyone demand proof for such matters. And by "guidance" is meant rational proof. For example, the interconnected system of this universe necessitates that there must be a powerful, knowledgeable, and aware being who created and controls it. Or that everything must have a maker. Or that if there is camel dung lying on the road, it is rational proof that a camel has passed by here. And by "illuminating book" is meant any transmitted or heard proof, i.e., such a proof that is mentioned in a revealed book. For example, that the Creator of this universe is Allah Almighty, and in His authority and power, or in His essence and attributes, no one else is His partner. And the Noble Quran and Ahadith are full of such heard or transmitted proofs.
Disputing About Allah Without Knowledge, Guidance, or Book:
Now, those who argue or dispute about the essence of Allah, or His powers and authority, or His other attributes, neither have any self-evident or experimental proof (knowledge), nor any rational proof (guidance), nor any heard or transmitted (illuminating book) proof. Their argument is only for the sake of argument or obstinacy. They have no answer except to say that since our forefathers used to do so, therefore we also do so or will continue to do so. And it is obvious that this is not a proof of any kind, and the sum of this answer is that if the elders had chosen the path of misguidance, then this misguidance would continue to be transferred from generation to generation among their descendants. The real purpose of these people in this dispute is to keep others away from the path of faith and certainty, and to mislead them just as they themselves are misled. Allah Almighty will disgrace and humiliate such spiteful and hostile people in this world, and the punishment of the Hereafter will, in any case, be even more severe.
[8]
What is Self-Evident Knowledge?
In this verse, the application of the word "knowledge" in the Shari'ah language generally refers to divine revelation, but here, knowledge means natural, innate, or self-evident knowledge that every human being possesses. For example, that every living being needs food and drink for the survival of its life, or that two and two make four, or that the whole is always connected to its part, or that whatever is thrown into fire, the fire burns it—these are matters for which no rational or transmitted proof is needed. Nor does anyone demand proof for such matters. And by "guidance" is meant rational proof. For example, the interconnected system of this universe necessitates that there must be a powerful, knowledgeable, and aware being who created and controls it. Or that everything must have a maker. Or that if there is camel dung lying on the road, it is rational proof that a camel has passed by here. And by "illuminating book" is meant any transmitted or heard proof, i.e., such a proof that is mentioned in a revealed book. For example, that the Creator of this universe is Allah Almighty, and in His authority and power, or in His essence and attributes, no one else is His partner. And the Noble Quran and Ahadith are full of such heard or transmitted proofs.
Disputing About Allah Without Knowledge, Guidance, or Book:
Now, those who argue or dispute about the essence of Allah, or His powers and authority, or His other attributes, neither have any self-evident or experimental proof (knowledge), nor any rational proof (guidance), nor any heard or transmitted (illuminating book) proof. Their argument is only for the sake of argument or obstinacy. They have no answer except to say that since our forefathers used to do so, therefore we also do so or will continue to do so. And it is obvious that this is not a proof of any kind, and the sum of this answer is that if the elders had chosen the path of misguidance, then this misguidance would continue to be transferred from generation to generation among their descendants. The real purpose of these people in this dispute is to keep others away from the path of faith and certainty, and to mislead them just as they themselves are misled. Allah Almighty will disgrace and humiliate such spiteful and hostile people in this world, and the punishment of the Hereafter will, in any case, be even more severe.
