Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahqaf Verse 17

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And (Contrary to this is the case of) the one who said to his parents, “Fie upon you both! Do you promise to me that I shall be brought out (from the grave), while generations have passed before me?” And they (the parents) were crying for Allah’s help, (and saying to their son,) “Woe to you. Accept the true faith. Allah’s promise is certainly true.” Then he says, “This is nothing but the tales of the ancients.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

But some scold their parents, “Enough with you! Are you warning me that I will be brought forth ˹from the grave˺, while many generations had already perished before me ˹for good˺?” The parents cry to Allah for help, ˹and warn their child,˺ “Pity you. Have faith! Surely Allah’s promise is true.” But the deniers insist, “This is nothing but ancient fables.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

But some say to their parents, “Fie upon you both! Are you warning me that I will be resurrected, even though many generations have passed before me [yet none was resurrected]?” His parents cry seeking Allah’s help, “Woe to you! Believe! The promise of Allah is true.” But he says, “This is nothing but ancient fables.”

A. J. Arberry

But he who says to his father and his mother, 'Fie upon you! Do you promise me that I shall be brought forth, when already generations have passed away before me?' while they call upon God for succour -- 'Woe upon thee! Believe; surely God's promise is true'; then he says, 'This is naught but the fairy-tales of the ancients' --

Abdul Haleem

But some say to their parents, ‘What? Are you really warning me that I shall be raised alive from my grave, when so many generations have already passed and gone before me?’ His parents implore God for help; they say, ‘Alas for you! Believe! God’s promise is true,’ but still he replies, ‘These are nothing but ancient fables.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And he who saith Unto his parents: fie upon you both! threaten me ye that I shall be taken forth, whereas generations have passed away before me? and the twain implore Allah's assistance woe Unto thee! come to believe! verily the promise of Allah is true; yet he saith: naught is this but fables of the ancients."

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But (there is one) who says to his parents, "Fie on you! Do ye hold out the promise to me that I shall be raised up, even though generations have passed before me (without rising again)?" And they two seek Allah's aid, (and rebuke the son); "Woe to thee! Have faith! for the promise of Allah is true." But he says, "This is nothing but tales of the ancients!"

Abul Ala Maududi

But he who says to his parents: “Fie on you! Do you threaten me that I shall be resurrected, although myriad generations have passed away before me (and not one of them was resurrected)?” The parents beseech Allah (and say to their child): “Woe to you, have faith. Surely Allah's promise is true.” But he says: “All this is nothing but fables of olden times.”

Ahmed Ali

But he who says to his parents: "Shame on you: You intimidate me that I will be resurrected when many generations will have passed before me?" And (the parents) would implore God's help: "Woe to you. You better believe. The promise of God is certainly true." Yet he answers: "These are only fables of long ago."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And the one who said to his parents, “Uff – I am fed up with both of you! What! You promise me that I will be raised again whereas generations have passed away before me?” And they both seek Allah’s help and say to him, “May you be ruined, accept faith! Indeed Allah’s promise is true”; he therefore answers, “This is nothing except stories of former people.”

Ali Quli Qarai

As for him who says to his parents, ‘Fie on you! Do you promise me that I shall be raised [from the dead] when generations have passed away before me?’ And they invoke Allah’s help [and say]: ‘Woe to you! Believe! Indeed Allah’s promise is true.’ But he says, ‘These are nothing but myths of the ancients.’

Ali Ünal

But (there is many a one) who says to his parents (who call him to righteousness and faith): "Uff to you both! (I am fed up with you!) Do you threaten me that I will be brought forth from the dead (to a new life and judgment), while so many generations have passed away before me (and so far not a single person has been raised)?" And they both pray to God for help (in the guidance of their child, and say to him): "Woe to you! Believe! God’s promise is certainly true!" But he says: "All this is nothing but fables of the ancients!"

Amatul Rahman Omar

Yet there is another (hard-hearted) one who says to his parents, `Fie upon you both! Do you threaten me that I shall be resurrected (to live again after death), when so many generations have already passed away before me (without any one of them having been raised to life).´ While both (- the believing parents) ask Allâh´s help (and say to their child), `Alas for you. Have faith, surely the promise of Allâh is true.´ But he says, `This is nothing but mere fables of the ancients.´

English Literal

And who said to his parents: "Ugh to you (B) do you (B) promise me that (E) I will be brought out, and the generations/centuries had past/expired from before me?" And they (B), they (B) seek/ask for help (from) God: "Your calamity/scandal/woe believe, that truly God`s promise (is) truth ." So he says: "That (is) not except the first`s/beginner`s myths/baseless stories ."

Faridul Haque

And the one who said to his parents, “Uff - I am fed up with both of you! What! You promise me that I will be raised again whereas generations have passed away before me?” And they both seek Allah’s help and say to him, “May you be ruined, accept faith! Indeed Allah’s promise is true”; he therefore answers, “This is nothing except stories of former people.”

Hamid S. Aziz

And he who says to his parents, "Fie on you! Do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth when generations have already passed away before me?" And they both (parents) call for Allah´s aid, (rebuking their son) "Woe to you! Have faith! Surely the promise of Allah is true." But he says, "This is nothing but stories of the ancients."

Hilali & Khan

But he who says to his parents: "Fie upon you both! Do you hold out the promise to me that I shall be raised up (again) when generations before me have passed away (without rising)?" While they (father and mother) invoke Allah for help (and rebuke their son): "Woe to you! Believe! Verily, the Promise of Allah is true." But he says: "This is nothing but the tales of the ancient."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

These are they from whom We accept the best of what they do and pass by their evil deeds -- among the owners of the Garden. A promise of truth, which they were promised.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And he who says to his parents: Fie on you! do you threaten me that I shall be brought forth when generations have already passed away before me? And they both call for Allah's aid: Woe to you! believe, surely the promise of Allah is true. But he says: This is nothing but stories of the ancients.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And whoso saith unto his parents: Fie upon you both! Do ye threaten me that I shall be brought forth (again) when generations before me have passed away? And they twain cry unto Allah for help (and say): Woe unto thee! Believe! Lo! the promise of Allah is true. But he saith: This is naught save fables of the men of old:

Muhammad Sarwar

There are people who say to their parents, "Fie upon you! Are you telling us that we shall be raised from our graves? So many people have died before us and (none of them have been raised)" Their parents plead to God and say to their child, "Woe to you! Have faith; the promise of God is certainly true" They reply, "What you say is only ancient legends".

Qaribullah & Darwish

But he who says to his father and his mother, 'Fie on you! Do you promise me that I shall be brought forth, when entire generations have passed away before me' Yet they supplicate to Allah for help 'Woe to you! Believe, surely the promise of Allah is true' Then he says: 'This is nothing but fairytales of the ancients'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

But he who says to his parents: "Uff to you! Do you promise me that I will be raised up when generations before me have passed" While they invoke Allah for help: "Woe to you! Believe! Verily, the promise of Allah is true." But he says: "This is nothing but the legends of the ancient."

Wahiduddin Khan

But he who says to his parents, "Shame upon you! Do you threaten me with being taken out of the grave after death while many a generation has passed away before me and none has risen from among them?" The parents both cry for God's help and say to him, "Believe! Alas for you! God's promise is true." But he says, "These are nothing but ancient fables."

Talal Itani

As for him who says to his parents, “Enough of you! Are you promising me that I will be raised up, when generations have passed away before me?” While they cry for God’s help, “Woe to you! Believe! The promise of God is true!” But he says, “These are nothing but tales of the ancients.”

Tafsir jalalayn

As for him who says to his parents (li-wlidayhi; a variant reading has li-wlidihi, `his parent', denoting the generic noun); `Fie (read uffin or uffan, as a verbal noun, meaning; `[something] putrid and disgusting') on you both; I am exasperated at both of you. Do you threaten me (a-ta`idnin; a variant reading has a- ta`idnn) that I shall be raised, from the grave, when already generations, communities, have passed away before me?', and they have not been raised from their graves. And they call on God for succour, that he [their child] repent, saying [to him]; if you do not repent, `Woe to you (waylaka, that is to say, halkaka, `you are ruined!'). Believe!, in resurrection. Surely God's promise is true'. But he says, `This, belief in resurrection, is nothing but the fables of the ancients', lies of theirs.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Mention of the Undutiful Children and Their End

In the previous Ayat, Allah mentions the dutiful offspring who supplicate for their parents and treat them with kindness. He describes the success and salvation He has prepared for them. Here He connects to that discussion the situation of the wretched offspring who are undutiful toward their parents.

Allah says,

وَالَّذِي قَالَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَا

But he who says to his parents;"Uff to you!"

As for the saying "Uff" in this Ayah, it is a general description applying to anyone who says it to his parents. Some people claim that it was revealed about Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr. But this claim is weak and rejected, because Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr embraced Islam after this was revealed. His adherence to Islam was excellent, and he was among the best of his contemporaries.

Al-Bukhari recorded from Yusuf bin Mahak that;

Marwan (bin Al-Hakam) was governor of Hijaz (Western Arabia), appointed by Mu`awiyah bin Abi Sufyan. He (Marwan) delivered a speech in which he mentioned Yazid bin Mu`awiyah and urged the people to give a pledge of allegiance after his father. Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr said something to him in response to that, upon which Marwan commanded his men;"Arrest him!" But he entered Aishah's house, and they were not able to capture him. Marwan then said;

"This is the one about whom Allah revealed;

وَالَّذِي قَالَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَا أَتَعِدَانِنِي أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ الْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِي

But he who says to his parents;"Uff to you! Do you promise me that I will be raised -- when generations before me have passed?"

From behind the curtain, Aishah responded;

"Allah did not reveal any Qur'an in our regard (i.e. the children of Abu Bakr), except for the declaration of my innocence."

In another report recorded by An-Nasa'i, Muhammad bin Ziyad reported that;

when Mu`awiyah was soliciting people to pledge allegiance to his son, and Marwan declared;

"This follows the tradition of Abu Bakr and `Umar."

On hearing this, Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr said;"Rather, this is the tradition of Heraclius and Caesar."

Marwan responded;

"This is the one about whom Allah revealed,
وَالَّذِي قَالَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَا
(But he who says to his parents;"Uff to you!")"

When that was conveyed to A'ishah, she said;

"Marwan is lying! By Allah, that was not revealed about him. If I wish to name the person meant by it, I could. On the other hand, Allah's Messenger placed a curse on Marwan's father (Al- Hakam bin Abi Al-`As when Marwan was still in his loins, so Marwan (bin Al-Hakam) is an outcome of Allah's curse."

As for Allah's statement;

أَتَعِدَانِنِي أَنْ أُخْرَجَ

Do you promise me that I will be raised?

meaning, resurrected.

وَقَدْ خَلَتْ الْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِي

when generations before me have passed,

meaning, generations of people have already passed away, and none of them has ever returned to tell (what happened to them) .

وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ اللَّهَ

While they invoke Allah for help,

meaning, they ask Allah to guide him, and they say to their son,

وَيْلَكَ امِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقّفَيَقُولُ مَا هَذَا إِلاَّ أَسَاطِيرُ الاَْوَّلِينَ




"Woe to you! Believe!

Verily, the promise of Allah is true."

But he says;"This is nothing but the legends of the ancient."

Allah then says,

أُوْلَيِكَ الَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَوْلُ فِي أُمَمٍ

قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالاِْنسِ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا خَاسِرِينَ