Surah Luqman ayat 21 Tafsir Quran 31:21

﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ﴾
[ لقمان: 21]

31:21 And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that upon which we found our fathers." Even if Satan was inviting them to the punishment of the Blaze?

And if it is said to them ‘Follow what God has revealed’ they say ‘We will rather follow what we found our fathers following’. He exalted be He says What! Would they follow such things even though Satan were calling them to the chastisement of the Blaze? that is to what will bring it about necessarily? No!

And when exhorted to tread the path of Allah and to recognize what He has revealed and accept it with consenting mind, they defiantly say: We only lean on the particular system of faith and worship our fathers were bent on. A great pity, even if AL-Shaytan is leading them by the nose to the gates of Hell wherein they suffer the torment laid upon the damned

Reminder of Blessings Here Allah reminds His creation of the blessings He bestows upon them in this world and the Hereafter.
In the heavens He has subjugated for them the stars which give them light during the night and during the day, and He has created clouds, rain, snow and hail, and made the heavens a canopy which covers and protects them.
On earth He has created for them stability and rivers, trees, crops and fruits; He has completed and perfected His graces upon them, apparent and hidden, by sending Messengers, revealing Books and removing doubts and excuses.
Yet despite all this, not all the people believe, and indeed there are those who dispute concerning Allah, that is, His Tawhid, and His sending the Messengers.
Their dispute is without knowledge and they have no sound evidence or valid inherited Book.
Allah says: ومِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلاَ هُدًى وَلاَ كِتَـبٍ مُّنِيرٍ ( And among men is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge or guidance, or a Book giving light (from Allah ).) ( 22:8 ) meaning clear and unambiguous. وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ ( And when it is said to them ) means, to these people who dispute about the Oneness of Allah. اتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ ( "Follow that which Allah has sent down," ) means, the pure Divine Laws that He has sent down to His Messengers, قَالُواْ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَا ( they say: "Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following ).") means, they have no other proof except the fact that they are following their forefathers.
Allah says: أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ءَابَاؤُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ ( Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided ) ( 2:170 ) meaning, `what do you think, you who take the forefathers' deeds as proof, that they were misguided and you are following in their footsteps' Allah says: أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَـنُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ ( Even if Shaytan invites them to the torment of the Fire )

(31:21) When they are told: 'Follow what Allah has revealed,' they say: 'We will rather follow that which we have found our forefathers following.' (Will they follow that) even though Satan might invite them to the chastisement of the Blazing Fire? *39

And when it is said to them, meaning

*39) That is, It is not at aII necessary that the forefathers of every person and every family and nation should have been on the right path.
The mere argument that a particular way of life had been bequeathed by the elders cannot be a proof of its being right also.
No sane person can commit the folly that he should blindly go on following the way of his forefathers even if they were not rightly guided, and should never bother to find out where the way is leading him."
 

Reminder of Blessings Here Allah reminds His creation of the blessings He bestows upon them in this world and the Hereafter.
In the heavens He has subjugated for them the stars which give them light during the night and during the day, and He has created clouds, rain, snow and hail, and made the heavens a canopy which covers and protects them.
On earth He has created for them stability and rivers, trees, crops and fruits; He has completed and perfected His graces upon them, apparent and hidden, by sending Messengers, revealing Books and removing doubts and excuses.
Yet despite all this, not all the people believe, and indeed there are those who dispute concerning Allah, that is, His Tawhid, and His sending the Messengers.
Their dispute is without knowledge and they have no sound evidence or valid inherited Book.
Allah says: ومِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلاَ هُدًى وَلاَ كِتَـبٍ مُّنِيرٍ ( And among men is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge or guidance, or a Book giving light (from Allah ).) ( 22:8 ) meaning clear and unambiguous. وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ ( And when it is said to them ) means, to these people who dispute about the Oneness of Allah. اتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ ( "Follow that which Allah has sent down," ) means, the pure Divine Laws that He has sent down to His Messengers, قَالُواْ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَا ( they say: "Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following ).") means, they have no other proof except the fact that they are following their forefathers.
Allah says: أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ءَابَاؤُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ ( Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided ) ( 2:170 ) meaning, `what do you think, you who take the forefathers' deeds as proof, that they were misguided and you are following in their footsteps' Allah says: أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَـنُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ ( Even if Shaytan invites them to the torment of the Fire )

( And if it be said unto them ) i.e. to the disbelievers of Mecca: ( Follow that which Allah hath revealed ) to His Prophet of the Qur’an; i.e. recite and act upon what is in it, ( they say: Nay, but we follow that wherein we found our fathers ) of religion and wont. ( What! Even though the devil were inviting them ) were inviting their fathers ( unto the doom of flame ) to disbelief, idolatry and that which leads to the chastisement of the Flame, and still they follow them?

And when it is said to them: "Follow that which Allah has sent down", they say: "Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following)." (Would they do so) even if Shaitan (Satan) invites them to the torment of the Fire.

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