Quran Quote  : 

    • Quran-21:39 Surah Al-anbiya English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

    لَوۡ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ حِينَ لَا يَكُفُّونَ عَن وُجُوهِهِمُ ٱلنَّارَ وَلَا عَن ظُهُورِهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ

    Transliteration:( Law ya'lamul lazeena kafaroo heena laa yakuffoona 'anw wujoohihimun Naara wa laa 'an zuhoorihim wa laa hum yunsaroon )

    39. And how the infidels knew the time when they will not be able to keep off fire from their mouths and not from their backs [61], neither shall they be helped [62], (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

    (39) If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not avert the Fire from their faces or from their backs and they will not be aided...[885] (Saheen International Translation)

    Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics

    Surah Al-Anbiya Ayat 39 Tafsir (Commentry)



    • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
    • Ibn Kathir
    • Ala-Madudi
    • Shaheen International

    📖 Commentary of Surah Al-Anbiya – Verse 39

    "And how the infidels knew the time when they will not be able to keep off fire from their mouths and not from their backs [61], neither shall they be helped [62]."

    ✅ [61] The Surrounding Fire of Punishment

    This verse describes a scene of the grave or the Hereafter, where the fire will surround the disbelievers from all directions—from their mouths to their backs—and they will be completely helpless to shield themselves from it.

    Unlike them, believers will be granted divine protection. Even if the fire reaches a sinful believer, it may be extinguished through:

    • The blessing of his charity

    • His tears shed in fear of Allah

    • Or the sanctity of his sujood (prostration)

    The fire will not touch the believer’s heart, brain, or the body parts used in prostration, highlighting Allah’s mercy toward those who worship Him sincerely.

    ✅ [62] Absence of Helpers for Disbelievers

    This part emphasizes that disbelievers will have no helpers on the Day of Judgment. In contrast, Allah provides support for the believers in both worlds. As the Qur’an says:

    "Only Allah is your helper, and His Messenger, and the believers." (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:55)

    This verse also affirms that:

    • The fire will scorch the faces of the disbelievers,

    • While believers will retain their human appearance,

    • And parts of their body used in sajdah will remain unharmed

    The contrast in treatment between the two groups reflects the honor of belief and the humiliation of disbelief.

    Ibn-Kathir

    The tafsir of Surah Anbiya verse 39 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
    Please refer to Surah Anbiya ayat 38 which provides the complete commentary from verse 38 through 40.

    (21:39) If only the unbelievers knew of the Hour when they shall not be able to keep off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs; nor shall they be helped.

    Ala-Maududi

    (21:39) If only the unbelievers knew of the Hour when they shall not be able to keep off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs; nor shall they be helped.

    There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.

    (39) If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not avert the Fire from their faces or from their backs and they will not be aided...[885]

    [885]- The completion of the sentence is understood to be "...they would not be asking in disbelief and ridicule to be shown the punishment."

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