Quran Quote  : 

Quran-17:36 Surah Al-isra English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

Transliteration:( Wa laa taqfu maa laisa laka bihee 'ilm; innas sam'a walbasara walfu'aada kullu ulaaa'ika kaana 'anhu mas'oolaa )

36. And do not go after that thing which you do not know (85). No doubt, the ears and the eyes (86), and the heart all are to be questioned of (87).

Surah Al-Isra Ayat 36 Tafsir (Commentry)



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

85. This tells us that it is forbidden to give a verdict or explain a religious issue without knowledge, all of which is included in this world.

86. This means a person will be questioned with regard to harbouring evil thoughts or having, detective beliefs. However, those evil thoughts which come in one's heart involuntarily are excused Thus, there is no inconsistency in the verses and the Hadith. 

87. This means that all these inner and outer limbs will be questioned on the Day of Judgement that you did not use these for doing permissible deeds. Therefore use these to do good deeds only. These questions are not for the knowledge of Allah Almighty, but to seek the acknowledgement and admission of guilt by the transgressors.

 

Ibn-Kathir

36. And follow not that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of those ones will be questioned (by Allah).


Do not speak without Knowledge

`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said: “This means) do not say (anything of which you have no knowledge).” Al-`Awfi said: “Do not accuse anyone of that of which you have no knowledge.” Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah said: “It means bearing false witness.” Qatadah said: “Do not say, `I have seen’, when you did not see anything, or `I have heard’, when you did not hear anything, or `I know’, when you do not know, for Allah will ask you about all of that.” In conclusion, what they said means that Allah forbids speaking without knowledge and only on the basis of suspicion, which is mere imagination and illusions. As Allah says:

﴿اجْتَنِبُواْ كَثِيراً مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ﴾

(Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins.) ﴿49:12﴾ According to a Hadith:

«إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّنَفَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيث»

(Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech.) The following Hadith is found in Sunan Abu Dawud:

«بِئْسَ مَطِيَّةُ الرَّجُلِ: زَعَمُوا»

(What an evil habit it is for a man to say, `They claimed…’) According to another Hadith:

«إِنَّ أَفْرَى الْفِرَى أَنْ يُرِيَ الرَّجُلُ عَيْنَيْهِ مَا لَمْ تَرَيَا»

(The worst of lies is for a man to claim to have seen something that he has not seen.) In the Sahih it says:

«مَنْ تَحَلَّمَ حُلْمًا كُلِّفَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَنْ يَعْقِدَ بَيْنَ شَعِيرَتَيْنِ وَلَيْسَ بِفَاعِل»

(Whoever claims to have seen a dream (when he has not seen) will be told on the Day of Resurrection to make a knot between two barley grains, and he will not be able to do it.)

﴿كُلُّ أُولـئِكَ﴾

(each of those ones) means these faculties, hearing, sight and the heart,

﴿كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُولاً﴾

(will be questioned.) means, the person will be asked about them on the Day of Resurrection, and they will be asked about him and what he did with them.

(17:36) (xiii) Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Surely the hearing, the sight, the heart – each of these shall be called to account.[42]

Ala-Maududi

(17:36) (xiii) Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Surely the hearing, the sight, the heart – each of these shall be called to account.[42]


42. The meanings of “Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge” are very comprehensive. It demands that both in individual and collective life, one should not follow mere guess work and presumption instead of knowledge. This instruction covers all aspects of Islamic life, moral, legal, political, administrative and applies to science, arts and education. It has thus saved the society from numerous evils which are produced in human life by following guesswork instead of knowledge. The Islamic moral code demands: Guard against suspicion and do not accuse any individual or group without proper investigation. In law, it has been made a permanent principle that no action should be taken against anyone without proper investigation. It has been made unlawful to arrest, beat or imprison anyone on mere suspicion during investigation. In regards to foreign relations, the definite policy has been laid down that no action should be taken without investigation, nor should rumors be set afloat. Likewise in education the so called sciences based on mere guess work, presumptions and irrational theories have been disapproved. Above all, it cuts at the very root of superstitions, for this instruction teaches the believers to accept only that which is based on the knowledge imparted by Allah and His Messenger.

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