سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 21
وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And he (Iblîs - Satan) had no authority over them, - except that We might test him who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is a Hafiz (Watchful) over everything. (All-Knower of everything i.e. He keeps record of every person as regards deeds, and then He will reward them accordingly).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
was
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
عَلَيْهِم
ʿalayhim
over them
مِّن
min
any
سُلْطَـٰنٍ
sul'ṭānin
authority
إِلَّا
illā
except
لِنَعْلَمَ
linaʿlama
that We (might) make evident
مَن
man
who
يُؤْمِنُ
yu'minu
believes
بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
bil-ākhirati
in the Hereafter
مِمَّنْ
mimman
from (one) who
هُوَ
huwa
[he]
مِنْهَا
min'hā
about it
فِى
fī
(is) in
شَكٍّۢ ۗ
shakkin
doubt
وَرَبُّكَ
warabbuka
And your Lord
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
كُلِّ
kulli
all
شَىْءٍ
shayin
things
حَفِيظٌۭ
ḥafīẓun
(is) a Guardian
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.
21. Yet Iblis had no authority [34] over them; (all this happened) so that We might make clear who believes in the Hereafter and who remains in doubt about it. And your Lord is Watchful over all things [35].
[34]
Through Which Ways Does Satan Lead Humans Astray?
Iblis does not possess any such power that he can forcibly turn people from the path of Allah to his own path. He only has the ability to cast a whisper into the heart of a human. He cannot do anything beyond this, and the three most effective ways by which Satan leads humans astray are as follows. First, he presents ever-new paths of shirk to humans in a very attractive manner. Second, he entangles them in doubts and suspicions regarding the belief in the Hereafter, or he introduces such partial beliefs into the concept of the Hereafter that the real purpose of the belief in the Hereafter is lost—and the correct understanding of the Hereafter is what keeps a person steadfast on the straight path of Allah. His third attack is on their clothing, and he continues to present the ways of nudity, shamelessness, and obscenity to people in an appealing manner.
[35] That is, Allah knows very well to what extent He has given Iblis the authority to mislead people, and He knows well that Iblis can only mislead those who are already waiting for Satan’s signals. And those who have firm faith in Allah and the Day of Judgment do not fall for his deception, and even if they do, they soon realize it and immediately turn back to Allah.
[34]
Through Which Ways Does Satan Lead Humans Astray?
Iblis does not possess any such power that he can forcibly turn people from the path of Allah to his own path. He only has the ability to cast a whisper into the heart of a human. He cannot do anything beyond this, and the three most effective ways by which Satan leads humans astray are as follows. First, he presents ever-new paths of shirk to humans in a very attractive manner. Second, he entangles them in doubts and suspicions regarding the belief in the Hereafter, or he introduces such partial beliefs into the concept of the Hereafter that the real purpose of the belief in the Hereafter is lost—and the correct understanding of the Hereafter is what keeps a person steadfast on the straight path of Allah. His third attack is on their clothing, and he continues to present the ways of nudity, shamelessness, and obscenity to people in an appealing manner.
[35] That is, Allah knows very well to what extent He has given Iblis the authority to mislead people, and He knows well that Iblis can only mislead those who are already waiting for Satan’s signals. And those who have firm faith in Allah and the Day of Judgment do not fall for his deception, and even if they do, they soon realize it and immediately turn back to Allah.
