سُوْرَةُ صٓ
Surah Saad (38) — Ayah 23
إِنَّ هَـٰذَآ أَخِى لَهُۥ تِسْعٌ وَتِسْعُونَ نَعْجَةً وَلِىَ نَعْجَةٌ وَٰحِدَةٌ فَقَالَ أَكْفِلْنِيهَا وَعَزَّنِى فِى ٱلْخِطَابِ ﴿23﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, this my brother (in religion) has ninety-nine ewes, while I have (only) one ewe, and he says: "Hand it over to me, and he overpowered me in speech."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
هَـٰذَآ
hādhā
this
أَخِى
akhī
(is) my brother
لَهُۥ
lahu
he has
تِسْعٌۭ
tis'ʿun
ninety-nine
وَتِسْعُونَ
watis'ʿūna
ninety-nine
نَعْجَةًۭ
naʿjatan
ewe(s)
وَلِىَ
waliya
while I have
نَعْجَةٌۭ
naʿjatun
ewe
وَٰحِدَةٌۭ
wāḥidatun
one
فَقَالَ
faqāla
so he said
أَكْفِلْنِيهَا
akfil'nīhā
Entrust her to me
وَعَزَّنِى
waʿazzanī
and he overpowered me
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْخِطَابِ
l-khiṭābi
[the] speech
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.
23. "This is my brother. He has ninety-nine ewes, and I have only one ewe. Yet he says, 'Give it to me,' and he overpowered me in speech [27]."
[27] After this introductory joint statement, the plaintiff presented his case: This (defendant) is my brother (by brother is not necessarily meant a blood brother, but it could also mean a religious brother or a partner in business). He already has ninety-nine ewes, and I have only one. Now he says, "Give that one to me as well," and I do not even have the courage to speak to him in defense of my right. He does not let me speak in such a manner and overpowers me.
[27] After this introductory joint statement, the plaintiff presented his case: This (defendant) is my brother (by brother is not necessarily meant a blood brother, but it could also mean a religious brother or a partner in business). He already has ninety-nine ewes, and I have only one. Now he says, "Give that one to me as well," and I do not even have the courage to speak to him in defense of my right. He does not let me speak in such a manner and overpowers me.
