Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ma'idah Verse 58

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When you call for Salāh, they take it in jest and fun. That is because they are a people who do not understand

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When you call to prayer, they mock it in amusement. This is because they are a people without understanding.

Ruwwad Translation Center

When you give the call to prayer, they ridicule it and make fun of it; that is because they are a people who have no understanding.

A. J. Arberry

and when you call to prayer, take it in mockery and as a sport; that is because they are a people who have no understanding.

Abdul Haleem

When you make the call to prayer, they ridicule it and make fun of it: this is because they are people who do not reason.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when ye call for the prayer they make a mockery and fun thereof. This because they are a people who understand not.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When ye proclaim your call to prayer they take it (but) as mockery and sport; that is because they are a people without understanding.

Abul Ala Maududi

And when you call for Prayer, they take it for a mockery and sport. That is because they are a people who do not understand.

Ahmed Ali

(Nor make friends with) those who, when you call (the faithful) to prayer, make mock of it and jest, because they do not understand.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when you call to prayer, they mock and make fun of it; this is because they are people without any sense.

Ali Quli Qarai

When you call to prayer, they take it in derision and play. That is because they are a people who do not exercise their reason.

Ali Ünal

When you recite the call to the Prayer, they take it for a mockery and sport – that is because they are a people who do not use their reason to understand.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And when you call (the people) to Prayer, they take it lightly and consider it worthless. They do so because they are a people who do not understand.

English Literal

And if you called to (for) the prayers, they took it mockingly and playing/amusement, that (is) with that they are a nation (that) do not reason/understand/comprehend.

Faridul Haque

And when you call to prayer, they mock and make fun of it; this is because they are people without any sense.

Hamid S. Aziz

Say, "O people of the Book! Do you disapprove of us for no other reason but that we believe in Allah, and the revelations that have come to us, and what was revealed before, and that most of you are rebellious (and disobedient)?"

Hilali & Khan

And when you proclaim the call for As-Salat [call for the prayer (Adhan)], they take it (but) as a mockery and fun; that is because they are a people who understand not.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

O you who believe, take not for friends those who take your religion as a mockery and a sport, from among those who were given the Book before you and the disbelievers; and keep your duty to Allah if you are believers.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when you call to prayer they make it a mockery and a joke; this is because they are a people who do not understand.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when ye call to prayer they take it for a jest and sport. That is because they are a folk who understand not.

Muhammad Sarwar

Because they are devoid of understanding, they ridicule your call for prayers saying that it is a useless act.

Qaribullah & Darwish

When you call to prayer, they treat it as a jest and a pastime. That is because they are a people who have no understanding.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And when you proclaim the call for the Salah, they take it (but) as a mockery and fun; that is because they are a people who understand not.

Wahiduddin Khan

When you call them to prayer, they treat it as a jest and a diversion. This is because they are devoid of understanding.

Talal Itani

When you call to the prayer, they take it as a joke and a trifle. That is because they are people who do not reason.

Tafsir jalalayn

And, those who, when you make the call to prayer, take it, that is, the prayer, in mockery and as a game, mocking it and laughing at it among themselves; that, [mocking] attitude, is because they are a people who do not understand.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَإِذَا نَادَيْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَةِ اتَّخَذُوهَا هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا

And when you proclaim the call for the Salah, they take it (but) as a mockery and fun;

When you proclaim the Adhan for the prayer, which is the best action there is, for those who have sound minds and good comprehension,

اتَّخَذُوهَا
(they take it...) also,

هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَعْقِلُونَ



as a mockery and fun; that is because they are a people who understand not.

the acts of worship and Allah's Law.

These are the characteristics of the followers of Shaytan who,

إِذَا سَمِعَ الاَْذَانَ أَدْبَرَ وَلَهُ حُصَاصٌ أَيْ ضُرَاطٌ حَتَّى لَا يَسْمَعَ التَّأْذِينَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَ التَّأْذِينُ أَقْبَلَ فَإِذَا ثُوِّبَ لِلصَّلَةِ أَدْبَرَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَ التَّثْوِيبُ أَقْبَلَ حَتَّى يَخْطُرَ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ فَيَقُولُ اذْكُرْ كَذَا اذْكُرْ كَذَا لِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَذْكُرُ حَتَّى يَظَلَّ الرَّجُلُ لَا يَدْرِي كَمْ صَلَّى فَإِذَا وَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ ذلِكَ فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ السَّلَم

When the call for prayer is made, Shaytan takes to his heels passing wind so that he may not hear the Adhan. When the call is finished he comes back, and when the Iqamah is pronounced, Shaytan again takes to his heels. When the Iqamah is finished he comes back again and tries to interfere with the person and his thoughts and to say, `Remember this and that,' which he has not thought of before the prayer, until the praying person forgets how much he has prayed. If anyone of you does not remember, then he should perform two prostrations before pronouncing the Salam.

This Hadith is agreed upon.

Az-Zuhri said,

"Allah mentioned the Adhan in His Book,

وَإِذَا نَادَيْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَةِ اتَّخَذُوهَا هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَعْقِلُونَ


And when you proclaim the call for the Salah, they take it (but) as a mockery and fun; that is because they are a people who understand not."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded this statement