سُوْرَةُ النَّبَاِ
Surah An-Naba (78) — Ayah 40
إِنَّآ أَنذَرْنَـٰكُمْ عَذَابًا قَرِيبًا يَوْمَ يَنظُرُ ٱلْمَرْءُ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ وَيَقُولُ ٱلْكَافِرُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى كُنتُ تُرَٰبًۢا ﴿40﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, We have warned you of a near torment - the Day when man will see that (the deeds) which his hands have sent forth, and the disbeliever will say: "Woe to me! Would that I were dust!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed We
أَنذَرْنَـٰكُمْ
andharnākum
[We] have warned you
عَذَابًۭا
ʿadhāban
(of) a punishment
قَرِيبًۭا
qarīban
near
يَوْمَ
yawma
(the) Day
يَنظُرُ
yanẓuru
will see
ٱلْمَرْءُ
l-maru
the man
مَا
mā
what
قَدَّمَتْ
qaddamat
have sent forth
يَدَاهُ
yadāhu
his hands
وَيَقُولُ
wayaqūlu
and will say
ٱلْكَافِرُ
l-kāfiru
the disbeliever
يَـٰلَيْتَنِى
yālaytanī
O I wish
كُنتُ
kuntu
I were
تُرَٰبًۢا
turāban
dust
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.
40. Indeed, We have warned you of a punishment that is near. On that Day, a person will see what his hands have sent forth, and the disbeliever will say, "Oh, would that I were dust!" [27]
[27] One meaning of this is: "I wish I had never been created." The second meaning is: "After dying and mixing with the dust, I would have remained as dust. I would not have been granted life again, nor would I have had to witness this day of hardship." The third meaning is derived from the hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ. He states that on the Day of Resurrection, all animals, beasts, and birds will be gathered, to the extent that the hornless goat will be recompensed by the horned goat that it struck in the world. [مسلم كتاب، البرو الصله باب تحريم الظلم]
Then it will be said to them: "Now become dust." At that moment, the disbeliever will wish, "Would that I too had become dust like these animals."
[27] One meaning of this is: "I wish I had never been created." The second meaning is: "After dying and mixing with the dust, I would have remained as dust. I would not have been granted life again, nor would I have had to witness this day of hardship." The third meaning is derived from the hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ. He states that on the Day of Resurrection, all animals, beasts, and birds will be gathered, to the extent that the hornless goat will be recompensed by the horned goat that it struck in the world. [مسلم كتاب، البرو الصله باب تحريم الظلم]
Then it will be said to them: "Now become dust." At that moment, the disbeliever will wish, "Would that I too had become dust like these animals."
