Al-Qur'an Surah Luqman Verse 21

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When it is said to them, “follow what Allah has sent down,” they say, “Instead, we would follow that on which we have found our fathers.” Is it so, even though the Satan has been calling them to the punishment of the flaming Fire?

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they reply, “No! We ˹only˺ follow what we found our forefathers practicing.” ˹Would they still do so˺ even if Satan is inviting them to the torment of the Blaze?

Ruwwad Translation Center

When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has sent down,” they say, “No, we follow what we found our forefathers doing.” Is that so, even if Satan is calling them to the punishment of the Blazing Fire?

A. J. Arberry

and when it is said to them, 'Follow what God has sent down,' they say, 'No; but we will follow such things as we found our fathers doing.' What? Even though Satan were calling them to the chastisement of the burning?

Abdul Haleem

When they are told, ‘Follow what God has sent down,’ they say: ‘We shall follow what we saw our forefathers following.’ What! Even if Satan is calling them to the suffering of the Blazing Flame?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when it is said unto them: follow that which Allah hath sent down, they say: nay! we shall follow that which we found our fathers upon. What! even though the Satan had been calling on them unto the torment of the Blaze.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When they are told to follow the (Revelation) that Allah has sent down, they say; "Nay, we shall follow the ways that we found our fathers (following). "What! even if it is Satan beckoning them to the Penalty of the (Blazing) Fire?

Abul Ala Maududi

When they are told: “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say: “We will rather follow that which we have found our forefathers following.” (Will they follow that) even though Satan might invite them to the chastisement of the Blazing Fire?

Ahmed Ali

When you ask them to follow what God has revealed, they say: "No. We shall follow what we found our ancestors following," even though the devil were calling them to the torment of Hell!

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has sent down”, they say, “On the contrary, we shall only follow that upon which we found our forefathers”; even if the devil was calling them to the punishment of hell?

Ali Quli Qarai

When they are told, ‘Follow what Allah has sent down,’ they say, ‘No, we will follow what we found our fathers following.’ What! Even if Satan be calling them to the punishment of the Blaze?

Ali Ünal

When such people are told to follow what God has sent down, they say: "No, but we follow that (the traditions, customs, beliefs, and practices) which we found our forefathers in.." What! even if Satan is inviting them to the punishment of the Blaze (by suggesting to them the way of their forefathers)?

Amatul Rahman Omar

And when it is said to them, `Follow that which Allâh has revealed.´ They say, `We would rather follow that which we found our fore- fathers following.´ (Would they do so) even though satan was inviting them (by that means) to the punishment of the flaming Fire?

English Literal

And if (it) was said to them: "Follow what God descended." They said: "But we follow what we found on it our fathers." Even if the devil was calling them to the blazing`s/inflamed`s torture?

Faridul Haque

And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has sent down”, they say, “On the contrary, we shall only follow that upon which we found our forefathers”; even if the devil was calling them to the punishment of hell?

Hamid S. Aziz

Have you not seen that Allah has subjected to you what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and has poured down upon you His favours, outwardly and inwardly? But amongst men are those who wrangle about Allah, without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an illuminating book (Scriptures that gives light and enlightens).

Hilali & Khan

And when it is said to them: "Follow that which Allah has sent down", they say: "Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following)." (Would they do so) even if Shaitan (Satan) invites them to the torment of the Fire.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And pursue the right curse in thy going about and lower thy voice. Surely the most hateful of voices is braying of asses.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when it is said to them: Follow what Allah has revealed, they say: Nay, we follow that on which we found our fathers. What! though the Shaitan calls them to the chastisement of the burning fire!

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And if it be said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, they say: Nay, but we follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though the devil were inviting them unto the doom of flame?

Muhammad Sarwar

When they are told to follow what God has revealed to them, they say, "We shall only follow our father's way of life." Will they follow it even if it is Satan who is calling them to the burning torment?

Qaribullah & Darwish

When it is said to them: 'Follow what Allah has sent down' they reply: 'No, rather we will follow that which we found our fathers upon' What! Even though satan is inviting them to the punishment of the Fire!

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when it is said to them: "Follow that which Allah has sent down," they say: "Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following)." Even if Shaytan invites them to the torment of the Fire

Wahiduddin Khan

When they are told to follow the [Revelations] that God has sent down, they say, "No, we shall follow the ways that we found our fathers [following]." Yes! Even though Satan is inviting them to the punishment of the burning Fire?

Talal Itani

And when it is said to them, “Follow what God has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we follow what we found our parents devoted to.” Even if Satan is calling them to the suffering of the Blaze?

Tafsir jalalayn

And if it is said to them; `Follow what God has revealed', they say, `We will rather follow what we found our fathers following'. He, exalted be He, says; What! Would they follow such [things], even though Satan were calling them to the chastisement of the Blaze?, that is, to what will bring it about necessarily? No!

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ


And when it is said to them,

means, to these people who dispute about the Oneness of Allah.

اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ

"Follow that which Allah has sent down,"

means, the pure Divine Laws that He has sent down to His Messengers,

قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ابَاءنَا

they say;"Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following)."

means, they have no other proof except the fact that they are following their forefathers.

Allah says;

أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ءَابَاوُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْيًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided. (2;170)

meaning, `what do you think, you who take the forefathers' deeds as proof, that they were misguided and you are following in their footsteps!'

Allah says;

أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ




Even if Shaytan invites them to the torment of the Fire