سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 54
وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبْلُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ فِى شَكٍّ مُّرِيبٍۭ ﴿54﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And a barrier will be set between them and that which they desire [i.e. At-Taubah (turning to Allâh in repentance) and the accepting of Faith], as was done in the past with the people of their kind. Verily, they have been in grave doubt.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَحِيلَ
waḥīla
And a barrier will be placed
بَيْنَهُمْ
baynahum
between them
وَبَيْنَ
wabayna
and between
مَا
mā
what
يَشْتَهُونَ
yashtahūna
they desire
كَمَا
kamā
as
فُعِلَ
fuʿila
was done
بِأَشْيَاعِهِم
bi-ashyāʿihim
with their kind
مِّن
min
before
قَبْلُ ۚ
qablu
before
إِنَّهُمْ
innahum
Indeed, they
كَانُوا۟
kānū
were
فِى
fī
in
شَكٍّۢ
shakkin
doubt
مُّرِيبٍۭ
murībin
disquieting
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 a barrier will be placed between them and what they desire [79], as was done with their kind before. Indeed, they were in a disturbing doubt [80].
[79] What will their desires be at that time? Only this: that we may believe, or that we may be sent back to the world, or that some way may be found for us to escape the punishment, or that someone may arise to intercede for us or to help us. On that day, all such desires of theirs will be ended in such a way that they will be utterly disappointed, as if a barrier has been placed before their wishes, making them completely hidden from them. Then, no thought will come to them except to endure the punishment.
[80]
The Literal Meaning of "Ashyaa’":
"Ashyaa’" is the plural of "Shi’ah," and "Shi’ah" means a party or political faction, whose basis is a difference in belief. The plural of "Shi’ah" is also "Shiya’." And when its plural comes as "Ashyaa’," it means people who have the same habits and ways, whether they have passed before or are present now. The fundamental misguidances of the Quraysh of Makkah were two: one, idol worship and associating partners with Allah, and considering their idols as partners in Allah’s authority and power; the second, denial of the Hereafter. Now, whoever follows the Quraysh in these two types of misguidance, whether they came before the Quraysh or after them, all are the "Ashyaa’" of the Quraysh. Allah Almighty is saying that the basis of such people’s beliefs is not knowledge, but mere doubts and conjectures. They can never prove with evidence that their deities are actually partners in Allah’s authority, nor can they prove that they cannot be resurrected or that the Day of Judgment cannot come. They themselves always remain doubtful about this, and such doubt keeps them restless. But merely for the sake of some of their interests, they do not openly express these doubts.
[79] What will their desires be at that time? Only this: that we may believe, or that we may be sent back to the world, or that some way may be found for us to escape the punishment, or that someone may arise to intercede for us or to help us. On that day, all such desires of theirs will be ended in such a way that they will be utterly disappointed, as if a barrier has been placed before their wishes, making them completely hidden from them. Then, no thought will come to them except to endure the punishment.
[80]
The Literal Meaning of "Ashyaa’":
"Ashyaa’" is the plural of "Shi’ah," and "Shi’ah" means a party or political faction, whose basis is a difference in belief. The plural of "Shi’ah" is also "Shiya’." And when its plural comes as "Ashyaa’," it means people who have the same habits and ways, whether they have passed before or are present now. The fundamental misguidances of the Quraysh of Makkah were two: one, idol worship and associating partners with Allah, and considering their idols as partners in Allah’s authority and power; the second, denial of the Hereafter. Now, whoever follows the Quraysh in these two types of misguidance, whether they came before the Quraysh or after them, all are the "Ashyaa’" of the Quraysh. Allah Almighty is saying that the basis of such people’s beliefs is not knowledge, but mere doubts and conjectures. They can never prove with evidence that their deities are actually partners in Allah’s authority, nor can they prove that they cannot be resurrected or that the Day of Judgment cannot come. They themselves always remain doubtful about this, and such doubt keeps them restless. But merely for the sake of some of their interests, they do not openly express these doubts.
