Tafseer of The Forgiver · Ghafir · 40:41
And O my people, how is it that I invite you to salvation while you invite me to the Fire?
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.
The exposition of the interpretation of His word, exalted is He: ﴿وَيَا قَوْمِ مَا لِي أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى النَّجَاةِ وَتَدْعُونَنِي إِلَى النَّارِ﴾ (O my people, what is the matter with me that I call you to salvation, while you call me to the Fire?)
He, exalted is His mention, says, reporting the words of this believer to his people of unbelievers: ﴿مَا لِي أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى النَّجَاةِ﴾ (What is the matter with me that I call you to salvation) — from the punishment of Allah and His retribution, through faith in Him and following His messenger Mūsā, and believing him in what he has brought you from your Lord — ﴿وَتَدْعُونَنِي إِلَى النَّارِ﴾ (while you call me to the Fire). He says: and you call me to the deeds of the inhabitants of the Fire.
And in accordance with what we have said about that, the exegetes have spoken.
Mention of those who said that:
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — all of them from Ibn Abī Naǧīḥ, from Muǧāhid, concerning His word: ﴿مَا لِي أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى النَّجَاةِ﴾ (What is the matter with me that I call you to salvation). He said: faith in Allah.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word: ﴿مَا لِي أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى النَّجَاةِ وَتَدْعُونَنِي إِلَى النَّارِ﴾ (What is the matter with me that I call you to salvation, while you call me to the Fire): this is the believer of the family of Firʿawn. He said: they called him to their religion and to remain with them.
