سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ
Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 35
وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِىَ نَفَقًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۚ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ ﴿35﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If their aversion (from you, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and from that with which you have been sent) is hard on you, (and you cannot be patient of their harm to you), then if you were able to seek a tunnel in the earth or a ladder to the sky, so that you may bring them a sign (and you cannot do it, so be patient). And had Allâh willed, He could have gathered them together (all) on true guidance, so be not you one of those who are Al-Jâhilûn (the ignorant).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
كَانَ
kāna
is
كَبُرَ
kabura
difficult
عَلَيْكَ
ʿalayka
for you
إِعْرَاضُهُمْ
iʿ'rāḍuhum
their aversion
فَإِنِ
fa-ini
then if
ٱسْتَطَعْتَ
is'taṭaʿta
you are able
أَن
an
to
تَبْتَغِىَ
tabtaghiya
seek
نَفَقًۭا
nafaqan
a tunnel
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
أَوْ
aw
or
سُلَّمًۭا
sullaman
a ladder
فِى
fī
into
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
the sky
فَتَأْتِيَهُم
fatatiyahum
so that you bring to them
بِـَٔايَةٍۢ ۚ
biāyatin
a Sign
وَلَوْ
walaw
But if
شَآءَ
shāa
(had) willed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
لَجَمَعَهُمْ
lajamaʿahum
surely He (would) have gathered them
عَلَى
ʿalā
on
ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۚ
l-hudā
the guidance
فَلَا
falā
So (do) not
تَكُونَنَّ
takūnanna
be
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
l-jāhilīna
the ignorant
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.
35. And if their turning away is hard on you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel in the earth or a ladder to the sky to bring them a sign [39], then do so. And if Allah had willed, He could have gathered them all to guidance (but this is not His will). So do not be among the ignorant [40].
[39]
The Disbelievers’ Demand for a Tangible Miracle and Your Wish:
A long period passed while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued to preach and endure the hardships from the disbelievers, yet the majority of the disbelievers persisted in their denial. This caused him to feel great distress. Occasionally, you ﷺ would think that if Allah were to show these disbelievers a tangible miracle, perhaps they would believe. Allah gave the answer to this desire: it is not Our way to compel people to believe by showing a tangible miracle. However, if you so wish, then try with your own effort—if you can dig a tunnel in the earth or set up a ladder to the sky to bring them the miracle they demand, then do so, but this is against My will. And if Allah had willed, He could have made them believe even without a miracle, and He has full power to gather all people upon faith. But this would defeat the very purpose for which mankind was sent into this world with intellect, willpower, and choice, for the sake of trial.
[40] That is, to think or plan against Allah’s will is foolishness, because Allah’s will is bound to prevail, and the one who thinks otherwise will gain nothing but defeat and regret.
[39]
The Disbelievers’ Demand for a Tangible Miracle and Your Wish:
A long period passed while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued to preach and endure the hardships from the disbelievers, yet the majority of the disbelievers persisted in their denial. This caused him to feel great distress. Occasionally, you ﷺ would think that if Allah were to show these disbelievers a tangible miracle, perhaps they would believe. Allah gave the answer to this desire: it is not Our way to compel people to believe by showing a tangible miracle. However, if you so wish, then try with your own effort—if you can dig a tunnel in the earth or set up a ladder to the sky to bring them the miracle they demand, then do so, but this is against My will. And if Allah had willed, He could have made them believe even without a miracle, and He has full power to gather all people upon faith. But this would defeat the very purpose for which mankind was sent into this world with intellect, willpower, and choice, for the sake of trial.
[40] That is, to think or plan against Allah’s will is foolishness, because Allah’s will is bound to prevail, and the one who thinks otherwise will gain nothing but defeat and regret.
