Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 95

Mufti Taqi Usmani

But they will never wish for it because of what their hands have sent ahead. Allah is All-Aware of the unjust.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

But they will never wish for that because of what their hands have done.[[ i.e., disobeying Allah, killing some of the prophets (including Zachariah and John the Baptist), claiming to have killed Jesus, accusing Mary of adultery, and dealing with usury. See {4:153}-158. ]] And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of the wrongdoers.

Ruwwad Translation Center

But they will never wish for that because of what their hand have sent forth. And Allah is All-Knowing of the wrongdoers.

A. J. Arberry

But they will never long for it, because of that their hands have forwarded; God knows the evildoers;

Abdul Haleem

But they will never long for death, because of what they have stored up with their own hands: God is fully aware of the evildoers.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they will by no means ever wish for it, because of that which their hands have sent on before; and Allah is the Knower of the wrong-doers.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But they will never seek for death, on account of the (sins) which their hands have sent on before them. and Allah is well-acquainted with the wrong-doers.

Abul Ala Maududi

Believe it that they will never wish for it, for (they are fully aware of the consequences of) what they have sent before them for the Hereafter. And Allah knows well the mentality of the transgressors.

Ahmed Ali

But they will surely not wish for death because of what they had done in the past; and God knows the sinners well.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And they will never long for it, because of the evil deeds they have done in the past; and Allah knows the unjust, very well.

Ali Quli Qarai

But they will not long for it ever because of what their hands have sent ahead, and Allah knows best the wrongdoers.

Ali Ünal

But because of what they have forwarded with their own hands (to the Hereafter, namely the sins and offenses which have destroyed the desire in them to meet God), they will never long for it. God has full knowledge of the wrongdoers (who wrong their own selves by what they have done).

Amatul Rahman Omar

But never shall they invoke it, on account of that which their own hands have sent before. Allâh knows these wrong doers very well.

English Literal

And they will never/not wish/desire it, never, because (of) what their hands advanced , and God (is) knowledgeable with the unjust.

Faridul Haque

And they will never long for it, because of the evil deeds they have done in the past; and Allah knows the unjust, very well.

Hamid S. Aziz

But they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent on before them; but Allah is well acquainted with the wrong doers.

Hilali & Khan

But they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent before them (i.e. what they have done). And Allah is All-Aware of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they will never invoke it on account of what their hands have sent on before, and Allah knows the wrongdoers.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And they will never invoke it on account of what their hands have sent before, and Allah knows the unjust.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

But they will never long for it, because of that which their own hands have sent before them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.

Muhammad Sarwar

But they can never have a longing for death because of what they have done. God knows the unjust well.

Qaribullah & Darwish

But they will never long for it (death), because of what their hands forwarded; and Allah knows the harmdoers.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

But they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent before them (i.e. what they have done). And Allah is Aware of the Zalimin.

Wahiduddin Khan

But they will never wish for death, because of what their own hands have sent on before them; God is fully aware of the wrongdoers.

Talal Itani

But they will never wish for it, because of what their hands have forwarded. God is aware of the evildoers.

Tafsir jalalayn

But they will never long for it, because of that which their own hands have sent before them, as a result of their rejection of the Prophet (s), the consequence of their mendacity. God knows the evildoers, the disbelievers and He will requite them.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

But they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent before them (i.e. what they have done). And Allah is Aware of the Zalimin (polytheists and wrongdoers).

meaning, "Since they know that they recognize you, and yet disbelieve in you."

Had they wished death that day, no Jew would have remained alive on the face of the earth.

Moreover, Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said that,
فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ
(Then long for death), means,

"Invoke (Allah) for death."

Also, Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ikrimah said that Ibn Abbas commented,
فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
(Then long for death if you are truthful),

"Had the Jews invoked Allah for death, they would have perished."

Also, Ibn Abi Hatim recorded Sa`id bin Jubayr saying that Ibn Abbas said,

"Had the Jews asked for death, one of them would have choked on his own saliva."

These statements have authentic chains of narration up to Ibn Abbas.

Further, Ibn Jarir said in his Tafsir,

"We were told that the Prophet said,

لَوْ أَنَّ الْيَهُودَ تَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ لَمَاتُوا وَلَرَأَوْا مَقَاعِدَهُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَوْ خَرَجَ الَّذِينَ يُبَاهِلُونَ رَسُولَ اللهِصلى الله عليه وسلّم لَرَجَعُوا لَا يَجِدُونَ أَهْلً وَلَا مَالاً

Had the Jews wished for death, they would have died and seen their seats in the Fire. And, those who invoked such curse against Allah's Messenger would have found no families or property had they returned to their homes."

Similar to this Ayah is Allah's statement in Surah Al-Jumuah,

قُلْ يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ إِن زَعمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَأءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ

وَلَا يَتَمَنَّونَهُ أَبَداً بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْديهِمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّـلِمِينَ

قُلْ إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ الَّذِى تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مُلَـقِيكُمْ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَى عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَـدَةِ فَيُنَبِّيُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

(Say (O Muhammad );"O you Jews! If you pretend that you are friends of Allah, to the exclusion of (all) other mankind, then long for death if you are truthful. "But they will never long for it (death), because of what (deeds) their hands have sent before them! And Allah knows well the Zalimin.

Say (to them);"Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to (Allah) the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do." (62;6-8)

So they claimed that they are Allah's sons and loved ones and said, "Only those who are Christian or Jews shall enter Paradise."

Therefore, they were called to invoke Allah to destroy the lying group, be it them or the Muslims. When the Jews declined, every one was sure of their wrong, for had they been sure of their claims, then they would have accepted the proposal. Their lies were thus exposed after they declined the offer to invoke the curse.

Similarly, the Messenger of Allah called a delegation of Najran's Christians to curse after he refuted them in a debate in which they demonstrated stubbornness and defiance.

Allah said,

فَمَنْ حَأجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَأءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ نَدْعُ أَبْنَأءَنَا وَأَبْنَأءَكُمْ وَنِسَأءَنَا وَنِسَأءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَـذِبِينَ

Then whoever disputes with you concerning him (`Isa) after (all this) knowledge that has come to you (i.e. `Isa) being a servant of Allah, and having no share in divinity), say (O Muhammad);"Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves ـ then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the curse of Allah upon those who lie." (3;61)

When the Christians heard this challenge, some of them said to each other, "By Allah! If you do such with this Prophet, none of you will have an eye that blinks."

This is when they resorted to peace and gave the Jizyah (tax) in disgrace. The Prophet accepted the Jizyah from them and sent Abu Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah with them as a trustee.

Similar to this meaning is Allah's command to His Prophet to proclaim to the polytheists;

قُلْ مَن كَانَ فِى الضَّلَـلَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ الرَّحْمَـنُ مَدّاً

Say (O Muhammad ) whoever is in error, the Most Gracious (Allah) will prolong him (in it). (19;75)

meaning, "Whoever among us has deviated, may Allah increase and prolong his deviation."

We will mention this subject later, Allah willing.

The Mubahalah (invocation to Allah to destroy the liars) was called a `wish' here, because every just person wishes that Allah destroy the unjust opponent who is debating with him, especially when the just person has a clear, apparent proof for the truth he is calling to.

Also, the Mubahalah involves invoking Allah for death of the unjust group, because to disbelievers, life is the biggest prize, especially when they know the evil destination they will meet after death.
Disbelievers wish They could live longer

This is why Allah said next,

وَلَن يَتَمَنَّوْهُ أَبَدًا بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمينَ