Surah Baqarah Ayat 20 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 20
The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.
“The lightning all but snatches away their sight; every time the light (Helps) them, they walk therein, and when the darkness grows on them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could take away their faculty of hearing and seeing; for Allah hath power over all things.
The lightning terrifies them as if it were going to snatch away their eyesight from them. When they see light, they move on a little further and When it becomes dark for them, they stand still. Had Allah so willed, He could have deprived them totally of their hearing and their sight. Most surely Allah has power over everything.
The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allah has power over all things.
The lightning almost snatcheth away their sight from them. As often as it flasheth forth for them they walk therein, and when it darkeneth against them they stand still. If Allah willed, He could destroy their hearing and their sight. Lo! Allah is able to do all things.
The lightning almost snatches their beholdings (Literally: eyesights); whenever it illuminates for them they walk in it, and when it darkens over them, they keep stationed; and if Allah had so decided, He would indeed have gone away with (i.e., taken away) their hearing and their beholdings. (Literally: eyesights) Surely Allah is Ever Determiner over everything.
The lightning almost snatches away their sight: whenever it flashes on them they walk on and when darkness falls around them they stand still. If God so willed, He could take away their hearing and sight: God has power over everything.
قریب ہے کہ بجلی ان کی آنکھیں اُچک لے جائے، جب ان کے لئے روشنی کرتی ہے تو اس میں چلتے پھرتے ہیں اور جب ان پر اندھیرا کرتی ہے تو کھڑے ہوجاتے ہیں اور اگر اللہ تعالیٰ چاہے تو ان کے کانوں اور آنکھوں کو بیکار کردے۔ یقیناً اللہ تعالیٰ ہر چیز پر قدرت رکھنے واﻻ ہے
Quran 2 Verse 20 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Baqarah ayat 20, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(2:20) It is as if the lightning would snatch their sight; whenever it gleams a while for them they walk a little, and when darkness covers them they halt.[19] If Allah so willed, He could indeed take away their hearing and their sight.[20] Surely Allah is All-Powerful.
19. The first parable refers to those hypocrites who disbelieved completely but had become Muslims merely, to further their worldly interests. The second parable refers to those who were prone to doubt and hesitation or whose faith was weak; who believed in the Truth but not to the extent of exposing themselves to hardships for its sake. The ‘violent rainstorm’ here alludes to Islam, which came to the world as a blessing. ‘Pitch-dark clouds, thunder and lightning’ refer to trials, tribulations and difficulties which confronted the Islamic movement, owing to the violent opposition and resistance of those committed to Ignorance. The last part of the parable portrays the state of mind of the hypocrites. They move a little ahead when circumstances seem favourable, but when either difficulties cloud the horizon, or when they are given directives which run counter to their desires or inherited prejudices, they are seized with alarm and come to a halt.
20. Just as God has completely deprived the first category of hypocrites of their ‘light of perception’, He could have rendered these other hypocrites totally blind and deaf. But it is not God’s way to deprive anyone of sight and hearing while he is willing to see and hear. Hence, God allowed them to retain their sight and hearing to the extent they were prepared to see and hear the Truth.
Ibn-Kathir
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 20 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 19 which provides the complete commentary from verse 19 through 20.
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