Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 65

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Say, “He is fully capable that He should send a punishment from above you or from beneath your feet, or to put you in confusion through divisions, and make some of you taste troubles through some others.”18 See how We bring forth explaining verses from different angles, so that they may understand.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say, “He ˹alone˺ has the power to unleash upon you a torment from above or below you or split you into ˹conflicting˺ factions and make you taste the violence of one another.” See how We vary the signs, so perhaps they will comprehend.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Say, “He is Capable to send a punishment from above you or from beneath your feet, or split you into factions, and make you suffer at the hands of one another.” See how We diversify the signs, so that they may understand.

A. J. Arberry

Say: 'He is able to send forth upon you chastisement, from above you or from under your feet, or to confuse you in sects and to make you taste the violence of one another.' Behold how We turn about the signs; haply they will understand.

Abdul Haleem

Say, ‘He has power to send punishment on you from above or from under your very feet, or to divide you into discordant factions and make some taste the violence of others.’ See how We explain Our revelation in various ways, so that they may understand,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou: He is Able to stir up torment on you from above you or from beneath your feet or to confound you by factions and make you taste the violence of one anot her. Behold! how variously We propound the signs that haply they may understand.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say; "He hath power to send calamities on you, from above and below, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, giving you a taste of mutual vengeance - each from the other." See how We explain the signs by various (symbols); that they may understand.

Abul Ala Maududi

Say: "It is He Who has the power to send forth chastisement upon you from above you, or from beneath your feet, or split you into hostile groups and make some of you taste each others' violence. Behold, how We set forth Our signs in diverse forms, so that maybe they will understand the Truth".

Ahmed Ali

Say: "He has power to send you retribution from the skies above, or the earth beneath your feet, or confound you with divisions among you, and give one the taste of the vengeance of the other." See, how distinctly We explain Our signs that they may understand.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Say, “He is Able to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to cause you to fight each other by dividing you into different groups, and make you taste the harshness of one another”; observe how We explain the verses so that they may understand.

Ali Quli Qarai

Say, ‘He is able to send upon you a punishment from above you or from under your feet, or confound you as [hostile] factions, and make you taste one another’s violence.’ Look, how We paraphrase the signs variously so that they may understand!

Ali Ünal

Say: "He it is Who has the power to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to confound you by splitting you into hostile groups and make you taste the violence of one another. Look, how We set out the signs (of God’s Existence and Unity and other truths of faith) in diverse ways, so that they may ponder and penetrate the essence of matters to grasp the truth.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Say, `He has power to send upon you a calamity from above and from beneath your feet or He may throw you into confusion by making you confront with conflicting parties, and make you taste the dissension (and violence) of one another.´ Behold! how We explain Our Messages in different ways so that they may give thought.

English Literal

Say: "He is the capable on that He sends on you a torture, from above you, or from beneath your feet, or He mixes/confuses you (into) groups/parties, and makes some of you taste/experience (the) courage/might (of) some, look/consider/perceive how We elaborate linguistically the verses/evidences, maybe they understand/learn."

Faridul Haque

Say, “He is Able to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to cause you to fight each other by dividing you into different groups, and make you taste the harshness of one another”; observe how We explain the verses so that they may understand.

Hamid S. Aziz

Your people called it a lie, and yet it is the truth. Say, "I have not been put in charge over you.

Hilali & Khan

Say: "He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), so that they may understand.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Say: Allah delivers you from this and from every distress, yet you set up others (with Him).

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say: He has the power that He should send on you a chastisement from above you or from beneath your feet, or that He should throw you into confusion, (making you) of different parties; and make some of you taste the fighting of others. See how We repeat the communications that they may understand.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Say: He is able to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to bewilder you with dissension and make you taste the tyranny one of another. See how We display the revelations so that they may understand.

Muhammad Sarwar

Say, "God has the power to send torment on you from above or below your feet, or to divide you into different groups quite hostile to one another, and make you suffer from each other's animosity." Consider how plainly We show them a variety of evidence (of the Truth) so that they may have understanding.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Say: 'He is Able to send forth upon you punishment from above you or beneath your feet, or to divide you into discordant factions, and to make some of you taste the affliction of the other' Look how We make plain Our verses, in order that they understand.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to Yalbisakum in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayat, so that they may understand.

Wahiduddin Khan

Say, "He has the power to send punishment on you from above your heads or from beneath your feet, or to divide you in sects and make you taste one another's violence." See how We explain Our revelations in various ways, so that they may understand.

Talal Itani

Say, “He is Able to send upon you an affliction, from above you, or from under your feet. Or He can divide you into factions, and make you taste the violence of one another. Note how We explain the revelations, so that they may understand.”

Tafsir jalalayn

Say; `He has the power to send forth upon you a chastisement from above you, from the heaven, such as stones [cf. Q. 8;32] or a Cry [cf. Q. 11;67], or from beneath your feet, such as the causing of the earth to cave in [cf. Q. 29;40], or to confound you, to confuse you, in parties, sects with differing whims, and to make you taste the violence of one another', through fighting. When this [verse] was revealed, the Prophet (s) said, `This [chastisement etc.] is easier and lighter'; but when the last statement was revealed, he said, `I seek refuge with Your Countenance!', as reported by al-Bukhr. Muslim reports the [following] hadth; `I requested from my Lord not to make my community violent towards each other, but He denied me this [request]'. In another hadth, when it was revealed, he [is reported to have] said, `As for this, it will surely come to pass, even though its proper meaning has not yet come'. See how We dispense, [how] We clarify for them, the signs, the proofs of Our power, that perhaps they might understand, that they might realise that what they follow is falsehood.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ

Say;"He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet,"

He said this after His statement,
ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ
(And yet you commit Shirk). Allah said next,
قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا
(Say;"He has the power to send torment on you.."), after He saves you.

Allah said in Surah Isra',

رَّبُّكُمُ الَّذِى يُزْجِى لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ فِى الْبَحْرِ لِتَبْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الْضُّرُّ فِى الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا نَجَّـكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ وَكَانَ الاِنْسَـنُ كَفُورًا

أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ وَكِيلً

أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَى فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفًا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا

Your Lord is He Who drives the ship for you through the sea, in order that you may seek of His bounty. Truly! He is Ever Merciful towards you. And when harm strikes you upon the sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him. But when He brings you safely to land, you turn away (from Him). And man is ever ungrateful. Do you then feel secure that He will not cause a side of the land to swallow you up, or that He will not send against you a storm of stones! Then, you shall find no guardian. Or do you feel secure that He will not send you back a second time to sea, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you because of your disbelief, then you will not find any avenger therein against Us. (17;66-69)

Al-Bukhari, may Allah grant him His mercy, commented on Allah's statement,

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ
أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ

Say;"He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to Yalbisakum in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another."

"Yalbisakum means, `cover you with confusion', So it means to, `divide into parties and sects'.

Jabir bin Abdullah said,

`When this Ayah was revealed,
قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ
(Say;"He has power to send torment on you from above"), Allah's Messenger said,
أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِك
(I seek refuge with Your Face),
أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ
(or from under your feet),

he again said,
أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِك
(I seek refuge with Your Face),
أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ
(or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another).

he said,

هَذهِ أَهْوَنُ أَوْ أَيْسَر

This is less burdensome or easier."'

Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith again in the book of Tawhid (in his Sahih), and An-Nasa'i also recorded it in the book of Tafsir.
Another Hadith

Imam Ahmad recorded that;

Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas said, We accompanied the Messenger of Allah and passed by the Masjid of Bani Mu`awiyah. The Prophet went in and offered a two Rak`ah prayer, and we prayed behind him. He supplicated to his Lord for a long time and then said,

سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي ثَلَأثًا

سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَاأ يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالْغَرَقِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا

وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالسَّنَةِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا

وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا

I asked my Lord for three;

I asked Him not to destroy my Ummah (Muslims) by drowning and He gave that to me.

I asked Him not to destroy my Ummah by famine and He gave that to me.

And I asked Him not to make them taste the violence of one another, but He did not give that to me.

Muslim, but not Al-Bukhari, recorded this Hadith in the book on Fitan (trials) (of his Sahih).
Another Hadith

Imam Ahmad recorded that;

Khabbab bin Al-Aratt, who attended the battle of Badr with the Messenger of Allah, said, "I met Allah's Messenger during a night in which he prayed throughout it, until dawn. When the Messenger of Allah ended his prayer, I said, `O Allah's Messenger! This night, you have performed a prayer that I never saw you perform before.'

Allah's Messenger said,

أَجَلْ إِنَّهَا صَلَةُ رَغَبٍ وَرَهَبٍ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهَا ثَلَثَ خِصَالٍ فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً

Yes, it was a prayer of eagerness and fear. During this prayer, I asked my Lord for three things and He gave me two and refused to give me the third.

سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَاأ يُهْلِكْنَا بِمَا أَهْلَكَ بِهِ الاْأُمَمَ قَبْلَنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا

وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْنَا عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا

وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لَا يُلْبِسَنَا شِيَعًا فَمَنَعَنِيهَا

I asked my Lord not to destroy us with what He destroyed the nations before us and He gave me that.

I asked my Lord not to make our enemies prevail above us and He gave me that.

I asked my Lord not to cover us with confusion in party strife, but He refused.

An-Nasa'i, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, and At-Tirmidhi also recorded it. In the book on Fitan, in Al-Jami`, At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih".

Allah's statement,

أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعاً

or to cover you with confusion in party strife,

means, He causes you to be in disarray and separate into opposing parties and groups.

Al-Walibi (Ali bin Abi Talhah) reported that Ibn Abbas said that;

this Ayah refers to desires.

Mujahid and several others said similarly.

A Hadith from the Prophet, collected from various chains of narration, states,

وَسَتَفْتَرِقُ هَذِهِ الاُمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلاَّ وَاحِدَة

And this Ummah (Muslims) will divide into seventy - three groups, all of them in the Fire except one.

Allah said;

وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ

and make you taste the violence of one another.

According to Ibn Abbas and others,

meaning, some of you will experience torture and murder from one another.

Allah said next,

انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الايَاتِ

See how variously We explain the Ayat,

by making them clear, plain and duly explained,

لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ



So that they may understand.

and comprehend Allah's Ayat, proofs and evidences