سُوْرَةُ فَاطِرٍ
Surah Faatir (35) — Ayah 45
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرًۢا ﴿45﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if Allâh were to punish men for that which they earned, He would not leave a moving (living) creature on the surface of the earth; but He gives them respite to an appointed term: and when their term comes, then verily, Allâh is Ever All-Seer of His slaves.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
يُؤَاخِذُ
yuākhidhu
Allah (were to) punish
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah (were to) punish
ٱلنَّاسَ
l-nāsa
the people
بِمَا
bimā
for what
كَسَبُوا۟
kasabū
they have earned
مَا
mā
not
تَرَكَ
taraka
He would leave
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
ظَهْرِهَا
ẓahrihā
its back
مِن
min
any
دَآبَّةٍۢ
dābbatin
creature
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
But
يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ
yu-akhiruhum
He gives them respite
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
till
أَجَلٍۢ
ajalin
a term
مُّسَمًّۭى ۖ
musamman
appointed
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
And when
جَآءَ
jāa
comes
أَجَلُهُمْ
ajaluhum
their term
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
بِعِبَادِهِۦ
biʿibādihi
of His slaves
بَصِيرًۢا
baṣīran
All-Seer
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.
45. And if Allah were to punish people for what they have earned, He would not leave a single living creature [52] on the surface of the earth. But He gives them respite for an appointed term. Then, when their term comes, surely Allah is ever watchful over His servants (and will deal with them accordingly).
[52]
The World is the Abode of Action, Not the Abode of Recompense. Otherwise, No Living Creature Would Remain Alive on Earth:
Other than humans and jinn, no other living creature is obligated by the Shariah, nor can it be disobedient to Allah, nor is it possible for it to be so. The real criminal is the human being. However, due to his punishment, other innocent creatures also suffer, just as the weevil is ground along with the wheat. For example, if Allah Almighty withholds rain as a consequence of the crimes of humans, then other living creatures also, due to the scarcity of water, suffer and die in agony. Similarly, if a flood or an earthquake occurs, the living beings in the affected area are also impacted and die. Only Allah knows what wisdom lies in not immediately seizing the criminal humans and granting them respite. It is possible that, due to the cries of those voiceless animals, He does not send punishment upon the criminals. In any case, this respite is only until an appointed time. Individually, this respite is until the time of each person's death. Collectively, it is until the time of Allah's punishment upon a nation or the Day of Judgment. After this appointed time comes the time of reckoning. No criminal will be able to hide from it nor escape it. And this reckoning will be based on truth and justice, because He Himself is watching every single deed and every single movement of His servants.
[52]
The World is the Abode of Action, Not the Abode of Recompense. Otherwise, No Living Creature Would Remain Alive on Earth:
Other than humans and jinn, no other living creature is obligated by the Shariah, nor can it be disobedient to Allah, nor is it possible for it to be so. The real criminal is the human being. However, due to his punishment, other innocent creatures also suffer, just as the weevil is ground along with the wheat. For example, if Allah Almighty withholds rain as a consequence of the crimes of humans, then other living creatures also, due to the scarcity of water, suffer and die in agony. Similarly, if a flood or an earthquake occurs, the living beings in the affected area are also impacted and die. Only Allah knows what wisdom lies in not immediately seizing the criminal humans and granting them respite. It is possible that, due to the cries of those voiceless animals, He does not send punishment upon the criminals. In any case, this respite is only until an appointed time. Individually, this respite is until the time of each person's death. Collectively, it is until the time of Allah's punishment upon a nation or the Day of Judgment. After this appointed time comes the time of reckoning. No criminal will be able to hide from it nor escape it. And this reckoning will be based on truth and justice, because He Himself is watching every single deed and every single movement of His servants.
