Tafseer of Ornaments of gold · Az-Zukhruf · 43:89
So turn aside from them and say, "Peace." But they are going to know.
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 statement concerning the interpretation of His word, the Exalted: "Then turn away from them and say: Peace. They will soon come to know" (43:89)
The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says to His Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, in answer to his supplication to Him when he said: "O Lord, indeed these are a people who do not believe" ( Then turn away from them ) O Muḥammad, and turn away from their torment ( and say ) to them ( Peace ) be upon you. And "salām" is put in the nominative case with the implied complement "ʿalaykum" (upon you) or "lakum" (for you).
And the reciters differed concerning the recitation of His word: ( They will soon come to know ). Most of the reciters of Medina read it as "fa-sawfa taʿlamūn" with the "tā", in the second person as a direct address, with the meaning: Allah, mighty and exalted is He, commanded His Prophet ﷺ to say that to the polytheists (mushrikīn), together with His word ( Peace ). And most of the reciters of Kūfa and some of the reciters of Mecca read it ( they will soon come to know ) with the "yā", in the third person as a statement, and that it is a threat from Allah to the polytheists. So its interpretation according to this recitation is: ( Then turn away from them ) O Muḥammad ( and say: Peace ). Then the Exalted, whose praise is exalted, began the threat against them and said: ( they will soon come to know ) what will befall them of trial, punishment, and torment because of their disbelief. Then Allah, praised be His praise, abrogated this verse and commanded His Prophet ﷺ to fight them.
As Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, he said: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda ( Then turn away from them and say: Peace ) he said: turn away from them, then He commanded him to fight them.
Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: Allah, praised and exalted is He, consoles His Prophet ﷺ ( then turn away from them and say: Peace, they will soon come to know ).
End of the tafsīr of Surah Al-Zukhruf
