سُوْرَةُ الشُّوْرٰي
Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 33
إِن يَشَأْ يُسْكِنِ ٱلرِّيحَ فَيَظْلَلْنَ رَوَاكِدَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ ﴿33﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If He wills, He causes the wind to cease, then they would become motionless on the back (of the sea). Verily, in this are signs for everyone patient and grateful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِن
in
If
يَشَأْ
yasha
He wills
يُسْكِنِ
yus'kini
He can cause the wind to become still
ٱلرِّيحَ
l-rīḥa
He can cause the wind to become still
فَيَظْلَلْنَ
fayaẓlalna
then they would remain
رَوَاكِدَ
rawākida
motionless
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
ظَهْرِهِۦٓ ۚ
ẓahrihi
its back
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِى
fī
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ
laāyātin
surely (are) Signs
لِّكُلِّ
likulli
for everyone
صَبَّارٍۢ
ṣabbārin
patient
شَكُورٍ
shakūrin
(and) grateful
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.
33. If He wills, He can still the wind, and the ships would remain motionless on the surface of the sea [47]. Surely, in this are signs for every steadfast and grateful person [48].
[47] In many places in the Quran, the movement of ships is counted among the signs of Allah. This is because the Quraysh of Makkah, in their trade relations, often had to travel by the Red Sea to trade with the coastal regions of Africa. In that era, there were sailing ships whose movement and speed depended on a favorable wind and its strength. They are being told that your helplessness is such that when your ship reaches the middle of the sea and Allah makes the wind still, then tell, what can you do at that time?
[48] Both "Sabbar" and "Shakoor" are intensive forms, and these two words together depict the entire life of a believer. That is, whenever a believer faces any calamity or hardship, he acts with patience and endurance. And whenever he receives any blessing from Allah or any good reaches him, he becomes grateful to Allah and begins to thank Him. In contrast, the habit of a disbeliever and a worldly person is that when afflicted by hardship, he panics and despairs of Allah’s mercy, even going so far as to curse Him. And when he attains any good or a period of prosperity comes, then he forgets Allah altogether. Thus, a believer often gets the opportunity to show patience and gratitude during a sea journey. In favorable conditions, he thanks Allah, and if the wind stops, his gaze remains fixed on Allah alone and he demonstrates patience.
[47] In many places in the Quran, the movement of ships is counted among the signs of Allah. This is because the Quraysh of Makkah, in their trade relations, often had to travel by the Red Sea to trade with the coastal regions of Africa. In that era, there were sailing ships whose movement and speed depended on a favorable wind and its strength. They are being told that your helplessness is such that when your ship reaches the middle of the sea and Allah makes the wind still, then tell, what can you do at that time?
[48] Both "Sabbar" and "Shakoor" are intensive forms, and these two words together depict the entire life of a believer. That is, whenever a believer faces any calamity or hardship, he acts with patience and endurance. And whenever he receives any blessing from Allah or any good reaches him, he becomes grateful to Allah and begins to thank Him. In contrast, the habit of a disbeliever and a worldly person is that when afflicted by hardship, he panics and despairs of Allah’s mercy, even going so far as to curse Him. And when he attains any good or a period of prosperity comes, then he forgets Allah altogether. Thus, a believer often gets the opportunity to show patience and gratitude during a sea journey. In favorable conditions, he thanks Allah, and if the wind stops, his gaze remains fixed on Allah alone and he demonstrates patience.
