Tafseer of Yaseen · Yaseen · 36:67
And if We willed, We could have deformed them, [paralyzing them] in their places so they would not be able to proceed, nor could they return.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
And His statement وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَمَسَخْنَاهُمْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِهِمْ (And if We willed, We would transform them in their place). The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: and if We willed, We would set these polytheists (mushrikīn) down upon their legs in their dwellings, فَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا مُضِيًّا وَلا يَرْجِعُونَ (so that they would not be able to go forward, nor to return). He says: so that they would not be able to go forward ahead of themselves, nor to turn backward and return.
The scholars of exegesis differed concerning its interpretation. Some of them said something to the effect of what we have said about it.
* Mention of who said that:
Yaʿqūb related to me, saying: Ibn ʿUlayya related to us, on the authority of Abū Rajāʾ, on the authority of al-Ḥasan وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَمَسَخْنَاهُمْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِهِمْ (And if We willed, We would transform them in their place): he said: if We willed, We would set them down.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, Saʿīd related to us on the authority of Qatāda وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَمَسَخْنَاهُمْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِهِمْ (And if We willed, We would transform them in their place), that is: We would set them down upon their legs, فَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا مُضِيًّا وَلا يَرْجِعُونَ (so that they would not be able to go forward, nor to return), so that they would not be able to go forward, nor backward.
Others said: no, rather its meaning is: and if We willed, We would destroy them in their dwellings.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His statement وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَمَسَخْنَاهُمْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِهِمْ فَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا مُضِيًّا وَلا يَرْجِعُونَ (And if We willed, We would transform them in their place, so that they would not be able to go forward, nor to return): he says: and if We willed, We would destroy them in their abodes. And al-makāna and al-makān have one and the same meaning. And we have already explained that previously.
