Tafseer of Ornaments of gold · Az-Zukhruf · 43:48
And We showed them not a sign except that it was greater than its sister, and We seized them with affliction that perhaps they might return [to faith].
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 explanation of the words of the Exalted: وَمَا نُرِيهِمْ مِنْ آيَةٍ إِلا هِيَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أُخْتِهَا وَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ (And We showed them no sign except that it was greater than its sister sign; and We seized them with the punishment, that they might return) (43:48).
The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says: And We showed Firʿawn and his prominent men no sign — that is to say: Our proof against him for the truthfulness of that to which Our messenger Mūsā summoned him — (إِلا هِيَ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أُخْتِهَا) — He says: except that what We showed him of it was weightier in the proof against them and more powerful than that which preceded it among the signs, and more demonstrative of the rightness of that which Mūsā charged him with regarding the profession of the oneness of Allah.
His words: (وَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْعَذَابِ) — He says: And We sent down the punishment (ʿadhāb) upon them, and that is like His seizing of them — exalted is His praise — with the years of drought, the diminishing of the fruits, the locusts, the lice, the frogs and the blood.
His words: (لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ) — He says: that they might return from their disbelief in Allah to the profession of His oneness and the obedience to Him, and to repentance over the disobediences in which they persist.
As Bishr has narrated to us, he said: Yazīd has narrated to us, he said: Saʿīd has narrated to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His words: (وَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ) — that is to say: that they might repent or take heed.
