Surah Anbiya ayat 109 Tafsir Quran 21:109

﴿فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ آذَنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَاءٍ ۖ وَإِنْ أَدْرِي أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ﴾
[ الأنبياء: 109]

21:109 But if they turn away, then say, "I have announced to [all of] you equally. And I know not whether near or far is that which you are promised.

But if they turn away from this say ‘I have proclaimed to you I have notified you of my declaration of war on you all alike ‘alā sawā’ is a circumstantial qualifier referring to both the subject of the verb and the object that is to say you are all equal in having knowledge of this I shall not proceed independently without having first informed you in order for you to make preparations although I do not know whether near or far is that which you have been promised’ with respect to chastisement or to the Day of Resurrection that comprises this chastisement; only God knows it.

And should they turn their backs, then say to them: I have done my duty and I have proclaimed to you all alike the word of Allah and warned you of the consequences. And I just do not know whether what you have been promised -good or bad- is close at hand or far and distant

The main Objective of Revelation is that Allah be worshipped Allah commands His Messenger to say to the idoators: إِنَّمَآ يُوحَى إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـهُكُمْ إِلَـهٌ وَحِدٌ فَهَلْ أَنتُمْ مُّسْلِمُونَ ( "It is revealed to me that your God is only one God.
Will you then be Muslims" ) meaning, will you then follow that and submit to it فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ ( But if they turn away ) means, if they ignore that to which you call them. فَقُلْ ءَاذَنتُكُمْ عَلَى سَوَآءٍ ( say: "I give you a notice to be known to us all alike..." ) meaning, `I declare that I am in a state of war with you as you are in a state of war with me.
I have nothing to do with you just as you have nothing to do with me.' This is like the Ayah: وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ أَنتُمْ بَرِيئُونَ مِمَّآ أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَاْ بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ( And if they belie you, say: "For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!" ) 10:41 وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَانبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَى سَوَآءٍ ( If you fear treachery from any people, throw back (their covenant ) to them ( so as to be ) on equal terms ( that there will be no more covenant between you and them )) 8:58 which means: so that both you and they will know that the treaty is null and void.
Similarly, Allah says here: فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُلْ ءَاذَنتُكُمْ عَلَى سَوَآءٍ ( But if they turn away say: "I give you a notice to be known to us all alike..." ) meaning, `I have already informed you that I have nothing to do with you and you have nothing to do with me.' No one knows when the Hour will come وَإِنْ أَدْرِى أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ ( And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e., the Day of Resurrection ) is near or far.) meaning: `it will inevitably come to pass, but I have no knowledge of whether it is near or far.' إِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْجَهْرَ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْتُمُونَ ( Verily, He (Allah ) knows that which is spoken aloud ( openly ) and He knows that which you conceal.) Allah knows the Unseen in its entirety; He knows what His creatures do openly and what they do secretly.
He knows what is visible and what is concealed; He knows what is secret and hidden.
He knows what His creatures do openly and in secret, and He will requite them for that, for both minor and major actions. وَإِنْ أَدْرِى لَعَلَّهُ فِتْنَةٌ لَّكُمْ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَى حِينٍ ( And I know not, perhaps it may be a trial for you, and an enjoyment for a while. ) meaning, `I do not know, perhaps it is a trial for you, and an enjoyment for a while.' Ibn Jarir said: `perhaps that is being delayed for you as a test for you, and enjoyment for an allotted time.' This was narrated by `Awn from Ibn `Abbas.
And Allah knows best. قَالَ رَبِّ احْكُم بِالْحَقِّ ( He said: "My Lord! Judge You in truth! ) means, judge between us and our people who disbelieve in the truth.
Qatadah said: "The Prophets ( peace be upon them ) used to say: رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْفَـتِحِينَ ( "Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of those who give judgment." ) 7:89, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was commanded to say this too." It was reported from Malik from Zayd bin Aslam that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ witnessed any fighting, he would say: رَبِّ احْكُم بِالْحَقِّ ( "My Lord! Judge You in truth!" ) وَرَبُّنَا الرَّحْمَـنُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ ( Our Lord is the Most Gracious, Whose help is to be sought against that which you attribute! ) means, `against the various lies and fabrications that you utter, some of which are worse than others; Allah is the One Whose Help we seek against that.' This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Anbiya'.
To Allah be praise and blessings.

(21:109) If even then, they turn away from it, tell them plainly, "I have warned you openly; now I do not know whether that thing with which you are being threatened *101 is near at hand or far off.

But if they turn away, then say, meaning

*101) That is, " I do not know the time and the form of the punishment of AIIah for your rejection of the Message.
It tray come at any time in any shape. "
 

The main Objective of Revelation is that Allah be worshipped Allah commands His Messenger to say to the idoators: إِنَّمَآ يُوحَى إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـهُكُمْ إِلَـهٌ وَحِدٌ فَهَلْ أَنتُمْ مُّسْلِمُونَ ( "It is revealed to me that your God is only one God.
Will you then be Muslims" ) meaning, will you then follow that and submit to it فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ ( But if they turn away ) means, if they ignore that to which you call them. فَقُلْ ءَاذَنتُكُمْ عَلَى سَوَآءٍ ( say: "I give you a notice to be known to us all alike..." ) meaning, `I declare that I am in a state of war with you as you are in a state of war with me.
I have nothing to do with you just as you have nothing to do with me.' This is like the Ayah: وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ أَنتُمْ بَرِيئُونَ مِمَّآ أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَاْ بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ( And if they belie you, say: "For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!" ) 10:41 وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَانبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَى سَوَآءٍ ( If you fear treachery from any people, throw back (their covenant ) to them ( so as to be ) on equal terms ( that there will be no more covenant between you and them )) 8:58 which means: so that both you and they will know that the treaty is null and void.
Similarly, Allah says here: فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُلْ ءَاذَنتُكُمْ عَلَى سَوَآءٍ ( But if they turn away say: "I give you a notice to be known to us all alike..." ) meaning, `I have already informed you that I have nothing to do with you and you have nothing to do with me.' No one knows when the Hour will come وَإِنْ أَدْرِى أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ ( And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e., the Day of Resurrection ) is near or far.) meaning: `it will inevitably come to pass, but I have no knowledge of whether it is near or far.' إِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْجَهْرَ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْتُمُونَ ( Verily, He (Allah ) knows that which is spoken aloud ( openly ) and He knows that which you conceal.) Allah knows the Unseen in its entirety; He knows what His creatures do openly and what they do secretly.
He knows what is visible and what is concealed; He knows what is secret and hidden.
He knows what His creatures do openly and in secret, and He will requite them for that, for both minor and major actions. وَإِنْ أَدْرِى لَعَلَّهُ فِتْنَةٌ لَّكُمْ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَى حِينٍ ( And I know not, perhaps it may be a trial for you, and an enjoyment for a while. ) meaning, `I do not know, perhaps it is a trial for you, and an enjoyment for a while.' Ibn Jarir said: `perhaps that is being delayed for you as a test for you, and enjoyment for an allotted time.' This was narrated by `Awn from Ibn `Abbas.
And Allah knows best. قَالَ رَبِّ احْكُم بِالْحَقِّ ( He said: "My Lord! Judge You in truth! ) means, judge between us and our people who disbelieve in the truth.
Qatadah said: "The Prophets ( peace be upon them ) used to say: رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْفَـتِحِينَ ( "Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of those who give judgment." ) 7:89, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was commanded to say this too." It was reported from Malik from Zayd bin Aslam that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ witnessed any fighting, he would say: رَبِّ احْكُم بِالْحَقِّ ( "My Lord! Judge You in truth!" ) وَرَبُّنَا الرَّحْمَـنُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ ( Our Lord is the Most Gracious, Whose help is to be sought against that which you attribute! ) means, `against the various lies and fabrications that you utter, some of which are worse than others; Allah is the One Whose Help we seek against that.' This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Anbiya'.
To Allah be praise and blessings.

( But if they are averse ) from faith and sincerity, ( then say ) to them, O Muhammad: ( I have warned you ) I have informed you, and as such you and I have become ( all alike ) both of us are openly aware of the matter and there is no secret, ( although I know not whether nigh or far is that which ye are promised ) of chastisement.

But if they (disbelievers, idolaters, Jews, Christians, polytheists, etc.) turn away (from Islamic Monotheism) say (to them O Muhammad SAW): "I give you a notice (of war as) to be known to us all alike. And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e. the torment or the Day of Resurrection) is near or far."

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