Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Hajj Verse 52

Mufti Taqi Usmani

We did not send any messenger before you nor a prophet, but (he faced a situation that) when he recited (the revelation), the Satan cast (doubts in the hearts of his opponents) about what he recited. So, Allah nullifies what the Satan casts, then Allah makes His verses firm, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Whenever We sent a messenger or a prophet before you ˹O Prophet˺ and he recited ˹Our revelations˺, Satan would influence ˹people’s understanding of˺ his recitation. But ˹eventually˺ Allah would eliminate Satan’s influence. Then Allah would ˹firmly˺ establish His revelations. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Ruwwad Translation Center

We did not send any messenger or prophet before you except that when he recited, Satan would cast into it. But Allah would abolish what Satan casts, then Allah would confirm His verses, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

A. J. Arberry

We sent not ever any Messenger or Prophet before thee, but that Satan cast into his fancy, when he was fancying; but God annuls what Satan casts, then God confirms His signs -- surely God is All-knowing, All-wise --

Abdul Haleem

We have never sent any messenger or prophet before you [Muhammad] into whose wishes Satan did not insinuate something, but God removes what Satan insinuates and then God affirms His message. God is all knowing and wise:

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And We have sent before thee no apostle or prophet but when he read the Satan cast forth suggestions in respect of his reading; then Allah abolisheth that which the Satan casteth forth; then Allah confirmeth His revelations; and Allah is Knowing. Wise;

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Never did We send a messenger or a prophet before thee, but, when he framed a desire, Satan threw some (vanity) into his desire; but Allah will cancel anything (vain) that Satan throws in, and Allah will confirm (and establish) His Signs; for Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom;

Abul Ala Maududi

Never did We send a Messenger or a Prophet before you (O Muhammad), but that whenever he had a desire, Satan interfered with that desire. Allah eradicates the interference of Satan and strengthens His Signs. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Ahmed Ali

We have sent no messenger or apostle before you with whose recitations Satan did not tamper. Yet God abrogates what Satan interpolates; then He confirms His revelations, for God is all-knowing and all-wise.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And all the Noble Messengers or Prophets whom We sent before you – it occurred with all of them – that whenever they recited (the message) Satan included a bit (from his own speech) in their recitation to the people; so Allah obliterates what Satan includes and then Allah fortifies His verses; and Allah is All Knowing, Wise.

Ali Quli Qarai

We did not send any apostle or prophet before you but that when he recited [the scripture] Satan interjected [something] in his recitation. Thereat Allah nullifies whatever Satan has interjected, and then Allah confirms His signs, and Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.

Ali Ünal

Never did We send a Messenger or a Prophet before you but that when he recited (God’s Revelations to the people) Satan would make insinuations (about these Revelations, prompting people to misconstrue them in many wrong senses, rather than the right one). But God abrogates whatever insinuations Satan may make, and then He confirms and establishes His Revelations. God is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And We have sent no Messenger, nor a Prophet before you but when he longed (to attain what he sought), satan (interfered and) put hindrances in the way of what he sought after. But Allâh removes (the hindrances) that are placed by satan, then Allâh firmly establishes His Messages. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

English Literal

And We did not send from before you from a messenger, and nor a prophet, except if/when he wished/desired, the devil threw in his wish/desire, so God erases/ nullifies what the devil throws , then God perfects/tightens His verses/evidences/signs, and God (is) knowledgeable, wise/judicious.

Faridul Haque

And all the Noble Messengers or Prophets whom We sent before you – it occurred with all of them – that whenever they recited (the message) Satan included a bit (from his own speech) in their recitation to the people; so Allah obliterates what Satan includes and then Allah fortifies His verses; and Allah is All Knowing, Wise.

Hamid S. Aziz

But those who strive to discredit Our signs, they are rightful owners of the Fire."

Hilali & Khan

Never did We send a Messenger or a Prophet before you, but; when he did recite the revelation or narrated or spoke, Shaitan (Satan) threw (some falsehood) in it. But Allah abolishes that which Shaitan (Satan) throws in. Then Allah establishes His Revelations. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise:

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And those who strive to oppose Our messages, they are the inmates of the flaming Fire.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And We did not send before you any apostle or prophet, but when he desired, the Shaitan made a suggestion respecting his desire; but Allah annuls that which the Shaitan casts, then does Allah establish His communications, and Allah is Knowing, Wise,

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Never sent We a messenger or a prophet before thee but when He recited (the message) Satan proposed (opposition) in respect of that which he recited thereof. But Allah abolisheth that which Satan proposeth. Then Allah establisheth His revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise;

Muhammad Sarwar

Satan would try to tamper with the desires of every Prophet or Messenger whom We sent. Then God would remove Satan's temptations and strengthen His revelations. God is All-knowing and All-wise.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Never have We sent a Messenger or a Prophet before you, but when he hoped, satan tampered with his hope. But Allah supersedes the tampering of satan and confirms His verses. And Allah is the Knower, the Wise.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Never did We send a Messenger or a Prophet before you but when he did recite (the revelation or narrated or spoke), Shaytan threw (some falsehood) in his recitation (of the revelation). But Yansakh Allah that which Shaytan throws in. Then Allah establishes His revelations. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise:

Wahiduddin Khan

Whenever We sent any messenger or prophet before you, and he recited anything [of Our revelation], Satan tampered with it. But God abrogates Satan's interjections and then He firmly reaffirms His revelations. God is all knowing and all wise.

Talal Itani

We never sent a messenger before you, or a prophet, but when he had a desire Satan interfered in his wishes. But God nullifies what Satan interjects, and God affirms His revelations. God is Omniscient and Wise.

Tafsir jalalayn

And We did not send before you any messenger (rasl) -- this is a prophet who has been commanded to deliver a Message -- or prophet (nab) -- one who has not been commanded to deliver anything -- but that when he recited [the scripture] Satan cast into his recitation, what is not from the Qur'n, but which those to whom he [the prophet] had been sent would find pleasing. The Prophet (s) had, during an assembly of the [men of] Quraysh, after reciting the [following verses from] srat al-Najm, Have you considered Lt and `Uzz? And Mant, the third one? [53;19-20] added, as a result of Satan casting them onto his tongue without his [the Prophet's] being aware of it, [the following words]; `those are the high-flying cranes (al- gharnq al-`ul) and indeed their intercession is to be hoped for', and so they [the men of Quraysh] were thereby delighted. Gabriel, however, later informed him [the Prophet] of this that Satan had cast onto his tongue and he was grieved by it; but was [subsequently] comforted with this following verse that he might be reassured [of God's pleasure]; thereat God abrogates, nullifies, whatever Satan had cast, then God confirms His revelations. And God is Knower, of Satan's casting of that which has been mentioned, Wise, in His enabling him [Satan] to do such things, for He does whatever He will.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

How the Shaytan threw some Falsehood into the Words of the Messengers, and how Allah abolished that

Allah says;

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ وَلَا نَبِيٍّ إِلاَّ إِذَا تَمَنَّى أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ فَيَنسَخُ اللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ اللَّهُ ايَاتِهِ

وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ



Never did We send a Messenger or a Prophet before you but when he did recite (the revelation or narrated or spoke), Shaytan threw (some falsehood) in his recitation (of the revelation).

But Yansakh Allah that which Shaytan throws in. Then Allah establishes His revelations. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise;

At this point many of the scholars of Tafsir mentioned the story of the Gharaniq and how many of those who had migrated to Ethiopia came back when they thought that the idolators of the Quraysh had become Muslims, but these reports all come through Mursal chains of narration and I do not think that any of them may be regarded as Sahih. And Allah knows best.

Al-Bukhari narrated that Ibn Abbas said,
فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ
(in his recitation (of the revelation),

"When he spoke, the Shaytan threw (some falsehood) into his speech, but Allah abolished that which the Shaytan threw in."

ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ اللَّهُ ايَاتِهِ

Then Allah establishes His revelations.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said,
إِذَا تَمَنَّى أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ
(when he did recite (the revelation), Shaytan threw (some falsehood) in it).

"When he spoke, the Shaytan threw (some falsehood) into his speech."

Mujahid said;
إِذَا تَمَنَّى
(when he did recite),

"When he spoke."

It was said that it refers to his recitation, whereas,
إِلاَّ أَمَانِىَّ
(but they trust upon Amani),

means they speak but they do not write.

Al-Baghawi and the majority of the scholars of Tafsir said;
تَمَنَّى
(he did recite),

"Reciting the Book of Allah."

أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ
(Shaytan threw (some falsehood) in it),

"In his recitation."

Ad-Dahhak said;
إِذَا تَمَنَّى
(when he did recite),

"When he recited."

Ibn Jarir said,

"This comment is more akin to interpretation."

فَيَنسَخُ اللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ

But Yansakh Allah that which Shaytan throws in.

The meaning of the word Naskh in Arabic is to remove or lift away.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"This means, Allah cancels out that which the Shaytan throws in."

وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ

And Allah is All-Knower,

means, He knows all matters and events that will happen, and nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him.

حَكِيمٌ



All-Wise.

means, in His decree, creation and command, He has perfect wisdom and absolute proof, hence He says