ترجمة معاني آية 47 سورة النحل - الترجمة الإنجليزية - د. وليد بليهش العمري - موسوعة القرآن الكريم

آية: 47

أَوۡ يَأۡخُذَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ تَخَوُّفٖ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمۡ لَرَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٌ

(47) Or that it should betake when they are apprehensive ˹of it˺^[3300]; then indeed your Lord is verily Compassionate, Merciful!^[3301]

[3300] Takhawwuf could be of two meanings (cf. Ibn Qutaybah, Gharīb al-Qur’ān, Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-Lughah, al-Sijistānī, Gharīb al-Qur’ān): being in a state of anticipation of an impending danger (cf. Ibn Kathīr, al-Shawkānī, al-Qāsimī, al-Tafsīr al-Muyassar, al-Tafsīr al-Mukhtaṣar); or (as in the language of the Arabian tribe of Hudhail (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr)) in a state of gradual dwindling in land and souls through killing, death and seizure (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Wajīz, al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar).
In all their states, whether unaware or anticipating peril, the threats as found here are worded in such a way as to blow off the cover of false security under which they went about their daily lives; now that they have pitted themselves against the Truth, they should feel less/least secure!
[3301] God being Compassionate and Merciful is the reason why He does not hasten His servants with punishment; to allow them time to repent (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī). Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger (ﷺ) said: “None puts up with a harm heard more than Allah. They set up rivals to Him and ascribe children to Him, yet He provides for them, keeps them safe and gives them!” (al-Bukhārī: 6099, Muslim: 2804).