سُوْرَةُ لُقْمَانَ
Surah Luqman (31) — Ayah 21
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when it is said to them: "Follow that which Allâh has sent down", they say: "Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following)." (Would they do so) even if Shaitân (Satan) invites them to the torment of the Fire?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
قِيلَ
qīla
it is said
لَهُمُ
lahumu
to them
ٱتَّبِعُوا۟
ittabiʿū
Follow
مَآ
mā
what
أَنزَلَ
anzala
Allah (has) revealed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah (has) revealed
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they say
بَلْ
bal
Nay
نَتَّبِعُ
nattabiʿu
we will follow
مَا
mā
what
وَجَدْنَا
wajadnā
we found
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
on it
ءَابَآءَنَآ ۚ
ābāanā
our forefathers
أَوَلَوْ
awalaw
Even if
كَانَ
kāna
Shaitaan was
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ
l-shayṭānu
Shaitaan was
يَدْعُوهُمْ
yadʿūhum
(to) call them
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
عَذَابِ
ʿadhābi
(the) punishment
ٱلسَّعِيرِ
l-saʿīri
(of) the Blaze
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.
And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "No, we will follow what we found our forefathers upon." Even if Satan is calling them to the punishment [29] of the Blaze?
[29]
Blindly Following Forefathers is Following Satan:
The reality of following forefathers is simply that one of the elders made a mistake, adopted a wrong belief, or started an innovative practice. Then, the later generations, out of reverence for the elders, accepted this mistake as correct and made it common. No one even considered the need to investigate it. In this verse, two things are made clear. First, that blindly following forefathers without investigation and following Satan are one and the same. Second, that the inevitable result of following Satan is the punishment of Hell. It is as if they are being asked: if Satan is leading your forefathers towards Hell, will you still follow your forefathers?
[29]
Blindly Following Forefathers is Following Satan:
The reality of following forefathers is simply that one of the elders made a mistake, adopted a wrong belief, or started an innovative practice. Then, the later generations, out of reverence for the elders, accepted this mistake as correct and made it common. No one even considered the need to investigate it. In this verse, two things are made clear. First, that blindly following forefathers without investigation and following Satan are one and the same. Second, that the inevitable result of following Satan is the punishment of Hell. It is as if they are being asked: if Satan is leading your forefathers towards Hell, will you still follow your forefathers?
