سُوْرَةُ الْحَدِيْدِ
Surah Al-Hadid (57) — Ayah 16
۞ أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿16﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) to be affected by Allâh’s Reminder (this Qur’ân), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, the disobedient to Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ أَلَمْ
alam
Has not
يَأْنِ
yani
come (the) time
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
for those who
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
believed
أَن
an
that
تَخْشَعَ
takhshaʿa
become humble
قُلُوبُهُمْ
qulūbuhum
their hearts
لِذِكْرِ
lidhik'ri
at (the) remembrance (of) Allah
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
at (the) remembrance (of) Allah
وَمَا
wamā
and what
نَزَلَ
nazala
has come down
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْحَقِّ
l-ḥaqi
the truth
وَلَا
walā
And not
يَكُونُوا۟
yakūnū
they become
كَٱلَّذِينَ
ka-alladhīna
like those who
أُوتُوا۟
ūtū
were given
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Book
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ
qablu
before
فَطَالَ
faṭāla
(and) was prolonged
عَلَيْهِمُ
ʿalayhimu
for them
ٱلْأَمَدُ
l-amadu
the term
فَقَسَتْ
faqasat
so hardened
قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ
qulūbuhum
their hearts
وَكَثِيرٌۭ
wakathīrun
and many
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
of them
فَـٰسِقُونَ
fāsiqūna
(are) defiantly disobedient
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.
Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should humble themselves to the remembrance of Allah and to what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts became hardened [29], and many of them are defiantly disobedient.
[28] It has already been mentioned that the probable period of revelation of this Surah is after the Battle of Ahzab and before the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. By that time, several signs of the dominance of Islam had appeared before the people. In the Battle of Badr, the disbelievers had suffered a crushing defeat. Even in the Battle of Uhud, ultimately the field remained in the hands of the Muslims, and in the Battle of Ahzab, Allah Almighty, through unseen means, helped the Muslims and forced the disbelievers to flee. From these events, the general people and neutral tribes were getting the impression that Islam and disbelief were equally matched, and everyone was waiting to see which side would prevail. In such circumstances, the hypocrites are being warned by this verse that after seeing such clear signs of the help and support of Islam, do you still not believe that the revelation and invitation being sent down from Allah is true and correct? Also, that the fate of the disbelievers and, along with them, the hypocrites, which is soon to come before you, has the time not yet come that the hearts of the Muslims should tremble because of it, and that their hearts should become soft with the remembrance of Allah and fear of Him?
[29]
The Quranic Verse That Changed the Course of Fudayl bin ‘Iyad’s Life:
What happens is that as long as the Prophet remains among his Ummah, the hearts of the believers become soft due to the Prophet’s company, the remembrance of Allah, and piety, and the hearts and natures of these people remain inclined towards excelling in goodness. But when the Prophet departs from this world, gradually, as time passes, people’s natures begin to become heedless of the remembrance of Allah. Instead of piety, the germs of wickedness, disobedience to Allah, and rebellion against Him begin to develop among them. Both the Jews and the Christians have gone through this condition. In this verse, Muslims in general and hypocrites in particular are being warned that heedlessness of the remembrance of Allah is such a disease that it hardens the hearts and wickedness and immorality begin to enter them. Therefore, it is obligatory upon you to remember Allah at all times; only through this will piety develop within you and your hearts remain soft. It is said that in the era of the Tabi‘in, Fudayl bin ‘Iyad was a bandit. Once, while he was engaged in his occupation of robbery and looting, someone recited this very verse: ﴿اَلَمْ يَاْنِ لِلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوْبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ﴾ in a loud voice. The effect of this verse and its sweet style of expression was such upon him that he trembled, repented at that very moment, abandoned his profession of banditry, and became engaged in the remembrance of Allah. Then, by adopting piety, he attained such a status that his name is at the forefront among the righteous of that era.
[28] It has already been mentioned that the probable period of revelation of this Surah is after the Battle of Ahzab and before the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. By that time, several signs of the dominance of Islam had appeared before the people. In the Battle of Badr, the disbelievers had suffered a crushing defeat. Even in the Battle of Uhud, ultimately the field remained in the hands of the Muslims, and in the Battle of Ahzab, Allah Almighty, through unseen means, helped the Muslims and forced the disbelievers to flee. From these events, the general people and neutral tribes were getting the impression that Islam and disbelief were equally matched, and everyone was waiting to see which side would prevail. In such circumstances, the hypocrites are being warned by this verse that after seeing such clear signs of the help and support of Islam, do you still not believe that the revelation and invitation being sent down from Allah is true and correct? Also, that the fate of the disbelievers and, along with them, the hypocrites, which is soon to come before you, has the time not yet come that the hearts of the Muslims should tremble because of it, and that their hearts should become soft with the remembrance of Allah and fear of Him?
[29]
The Quranic Verse That Changed the Course of Fudayl bin ‘Iyad’s Life:
What happens is that as long as the Prophet remains among his Ummah, the hearts of the believers become soft due to the Prophet’s company, the remembrance of Allah, and piety, and the hearts and natures of these people remain inclined towards excelling in goodness. But when the Prophet departs from this world, gradually, as time passes, people’s natures begin to become heedless of the remembrance of Allah. Instead of piety, the germs of wickedness, disobedience to Allah, and rebellion against Him begin to develop among them. Both the Jews and the Christians have gone through this condition. In this verse, Muslims in general and hypocrites in particular are being warned that heedlessness of the remembrance of Allah is such a disease that it hardens the hearts and wickedness and immorality begin to enter them. Therefore, it is obligatory upon you to remember Allah at all times; only through this will piety develop within you and your hearts remain soft. It is said that in the era of the Tabi‘in, Fudayl bin ‘Iyad was a bandit. Once, while he was engaged in his occupation of robbery and looting, someone recited this very verse: ﴿اَلَمْ يَاْنِ لِلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوْبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ﴾ in a loud voice. The effect of this verse and its sweet style of expression was such upon him that he trembled, repented at that very moment, abandoned his profession of banditry, and became engaged in the remembrance of Allah. Then, by adopting piety, he attained such a status that his name is at the forefront among the righteous of that era.
