Surah Al-An’am Ayat 148 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 148
Those who associated with Allah will say, “If Allah had willed, we would not have associated [anything] and neither would our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything.” Likewise did those before deny until they tasted Our punishment. Say, “Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us? You follow not except assumption, and you are not but falsifying.”
Those who give partners (to Allah) will say: “If Allah had wished, we should not have given partners to Him nor would our fathers; nor should we have had any taboos.” So did their ancestors argue falsely, until they tasted of Our wrath. Say: “Have ye any (certain) knowledge? If so, produce it before us. Ye follow nothing but conjecture: ye do nothing but lie.”
Those who associate others with Allah in His divinity will now surely say: ‘Had Allah willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated others with Allah in His divinity, nor would we have declared anything (which Allah did not forbid) as forbidden.’ Even so those who had lived before them gave the lie (to the Truth) until they tasted Our chastisement. Tell them: ‘Have you any sure knowledge that you can produce before us? In fact you are only following idle fancies, merely conjecturing.’
Those who took partners (in worship) with Allah will say: “If Allah had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His Will).” Likewise belied those who were before them, (they argued falsely with Allah’s Messengers), till they tasted of Our Wrath. Say: “Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us? Verily, you follow nothing but guess and you do nothing but lie.”
They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed (unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah’s messengers) till they tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for Us? Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion, Lo! ye do but guess.
The ones who have associated (i.e., associated others with Allah) will soon say, “If Allah had (so) decided, in no way would we have associated (with Him), nor our fathers, nor would we have even prohibited anything.” Thus, the ones before them cried lies until they tasted Our violence. Say, “Do you have in your presence any knowledge so you can bring it out to us? Decidedly you closely follow (nothing) except surmise, and decidedly you (do nothing) except conjecture.”
The idolaters will say, ‘If God had willed, we would not have ascribed partners to Him- nor would our fathers- or have declared anything forbidden.’ In the same way, those before them continually denied [the truth] until they tasted Our punishment. Say, ‘Have you any knowledge that you can show us? You follow only supposition and tell only lies.’
یہ مشرکین (یوں) کہیں گے کہ اگر اللہ تعالیٰ کو منظور ہوتا تو نہ ہم شرک کرتے اور نہ ہمارے باپ دادا اور نہ ہم کسی چیز کو حرام کہہ سکتے۔ اسی طرح جو لوگ ان سے پہلے ہوچکے ہیں انہوں نے بھی تکذیب کی تھی یہاں تک کہ انہوں نے ہمارے عذاب کامزه چکھا۔ آپ کہیے کہ کیا تمہارے پاس کوئی دلیل ہے تو اس کو ہمارے روبرو ﻇاہر کرو۔ تم لوگ محض خیالی باتوں پر چلتے ہو اور تم بالکل اٹکل سے باتیں بناتے ہو
Quran 6 Verse 148 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-An’am ayat 148, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(6:148) Those who associate others with Allah in His divinity will now surely say: ‘Had Allah willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated others with Allah in His divinity, nor would we have declared anything (which Allah did not forbid) as forbidden.’[124] Even so those who had lived before them gave the lie (to the Truth) until they tasted Our chastisement. Tell them: ‘Have you any sure knowledge that you can produce before us? In fact you are only following idle fancies, merely conjecturing.’
124. Their apology for their crimes and misdeeds would be that which has always been advanced by criminals and wrong-doers – an apology based on the assumption of absolute determinism. They would plead that when they associated others with God in His divinity, or unwarrantedly regarded certain things as prohibited, they did so because those acts had been willed for them by God. Had He not so willed, they would not have been able to do what they did. Hence, since they were doing everything according to the will of God, everything was proper. If anyone was to blame, it was God and not they. They were under compulsion to do what they did, for the ability to do otherwise lay beyond their power.
Ibn-Kathir
148. Those who committed Shirk say: “If Allah had willed, we would not have commited Shirk, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His will).” Likewise belied those who were before them, till they tasted Our wrath. Say: “Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us Verily, you follow the Zann and you do nothing but lie.” 149. Say: “With Allah is the perfect proof and argument; had He so willed, He would indeed have guided you all.” 150. Say: “Bring forward your witnesses, who can testify that Allah has forbidden this.” Then if they testify, do not testify with them. And do not follow the vain desires of those who belie Our Ayat, and such as believe not in the Hereafter, and they hold others as equal with their Lord.
Here Allah mentioned a debate with the idolators, refuting a false notion they have over their Shirk and the things that they prohibited. They said, surely, Allah has full knowledge of the Shirk we indulge in, and that we forbid some kinds of wealth. Allah is able to change this Shirk by directing us to the faith, – they claimed – and prevent us from falling into disbelief, but He did not do that. Therefore – they said Allah indicated that He willed, decided and agreed that we do all this. They said,
(“If Allah had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything.”) Allah said in another Ayah,
(And they said: “If it had been the will of the Most Gracious (Allah), we should not have worshipped them (false deities)”) ﴿43:20﴾. Similar is mentioned in Surat An-Nahl. Allah said next,
(Likewise belied those who were before them,) for by using and relying on this understanding, the misguided ones before them were led astray. This notion is false and ungrounded, for had it been true, Allah would not have harmed them, destroyed them, aided His honorable Messengers over them, and made them taste His painful punishment.
(Say: “Have you any knowledge…”) that Allah is pleased with you and with your ways,
(that you can produce before us.) and make it plain, apparent and clear for us. However,
(Verily, you only follow the Zann) doubts and wishful thinking,
(and you do nothing but lie) about Allah in the false claims that you utter. Allah said next,
(Say: “With Allah is the perfect proof and argument; had He so willed, He would indeed have guided you all.”) Allah said to His Prophet
(Say) O Muhammad, to them,
(“With Allah is the perfect proof and argument. ..”) the perfect wisdom and unequivocal proof to guide whom He wills and misguide whom He wills.
(had He so willed, He would indeed have guided you all.) All of this happens accordng to His decree, His will, and His choice. So in this way, He is pleased with the believers, and angry with the disbelievers. Allah said in other Ayat,
(And had Allah willed, He could have gathered them together (all) on true guidance,) ﴿6:35﴾ and
(And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together.) ﴿10:99﴾ and,
(And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah, but they will not cease to disagree. Except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His mercy and for that did He create them. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled: “Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinns and men all together.”) ﴿11:118-119﴾ Ad-Dahhak said, “No one has an excuse if he disobeys Allah. Surely, Allah has the perfect proof established against His servants.” Allah said,
(Bring forward your witnesses,) produce your witnesses,
(who can testify that Allah has forbidden this.) which you have forbidden and lied and invented about Allah in this regard,
(Then if they testify, do not testify with them.) because in this case, their testimony is false and untrue,
(And do not follow the vain desires of those who belie Our Ayat, and such as believe not in the Hereafter, and they hold others as equal with their Lord.) by associating others with Allah in worship and treating them as equals to Him.
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