Tafseer of The Clot · Al-Alaq · 96:15
No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock -
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.
His statement: كَلا لَئِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ ("Nay! If he does not desist") means: it is not as he said, that he would tread on the neck of Muḥammad; He says: he is not capable of that, and he will not reach him.
His statement: لَئِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ ("if he does not desist") means: if Abū Jahl does not desist from Muḥammad.
لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ ("We will surely seize him by the forelock") means: then We will surely seize him by the front of his head, and subdue and humiliate him. Concerning this one says: "safaʿtu bi-yadihi" (I seized him by his hand): when you take him by his hand. It has been said: it was specifically said لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ , while the meaning is: We will surely blacken his face, contenting oneself with mentioning the forelock (al-nāṣiya) instead of the whole face, since the forelock is located at the front of the face. And it has been said: the meaning of it is: We will surely drag him by his forelock to the Fire, as He said: فَيُؤْخَذُ بِالنَّوَاصِي وَالأَقْدَامِ ("then they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet").
