سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 46
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿46﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allâh’s Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allâh, that you may receive mercy?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
يَـٰقَوْمِ
yāqawmi
O my people
لِمَ
lima
Why
تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ
tastaʿjilūna
(do) you seek to hasten
بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ
bil-sayi-ati
the evil
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ
l-ḥasanati
the good
لَوْلَا
lawlā
Why not
تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
tastaghfirūna
you ask forgiveness
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
(of) Allah
لَعَلَّكُمْ
laʿallakum
so that you may
تُرْحَمُونَ
tur'ḥamūna
receive mercy
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.
46. (Salih) said: "O my people! Why do you seek evil before good? Why do you not seek forgiveness from Allah [46] so that you may receive mercy?"
[46] The opponents or influential people, since they deny the very prophethood of the prophet, therefore consider everything he says to be false. The prophet invites them to good deeds and urges them to repent and seek forgiveness for the evil deeds they have already committed. He also warns them of the evil consequences of bad deeds and the punishment of Allah. But the arrogant people say to the prophet: if you are truthful, then why has the punishment you keep mentioning not yet come upon us? And as for the things that should be done—seeking forgiveness and mercy from Allah—they do not pay any attention to them. Salih ؑ criticized them for this very attitude.
[46] The opponents or influential people, since they deny the very prophethood of the prophet, therefore consider everything he says to be false. The prophet invites them to good deeds and urges them to repent and seek forgiveness for the evil deeds they have already committed. He also warns them of the evil consequences of bad deeds and the punishment of Allah. But the arrogant people say to the prophet: if you are truthful, then why has the punishment you keep mentioning not yet come upon us? And as for the things that should be done—seeking forgiveness and mercy from Allah—they do not pay any attention to them. Salih ؑ criticized them for this very attitude.
