Quran-40:85 Surah Ghafir English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

فَلَمۡ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمۡ إِيمَٰنُهُمۡ لَمَّا رَأَوۡاْ بَأۡسَنَاۖ سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِي قَدۡ خَلَتۡ فِي عِبَادِهِۦۖ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ

Transliteration:( Falam yaku yanfa 'uhum eemaanuhum lammaa ra-aw ba'sana sunnatal laahil latee qad khalat fee 'ibaadihee wa khasira hunaalikal kaafiroon (section 9) )

85.But their belief was of no use to them when they had seen [214] Our punishment. This is Allah's Law, which is prescribed [215] to His devotees. And the infidels thereupon lost (all). (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(85) But never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment. [It is] the established way of Allāh which has preceded among His servants. And the disbelievers thereupon lost [all]. (Saheen International Translation)

Surah Ghafir Ayat 85 Tafsir (Commentry)



  • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
  • Ibn Kathir
  • Ala-Madudi
  • Shaheen International

214. From this we learn that bringing faith after seeing Divine punishment has no credence. The people of Hazrat Yunus (On whom be peace) had brought faith after seeing the signs of Divine punishment, therefore it was accepted, and not after seeing the actual punishment.

Similarly, if the infidel declares faith after seeing the signs of faith, it would be accepted, but if he does so after seeing death or the angels of punishment, it would not be accepted.

215. The law of the acceptance of faith is that it is not given any credence after seeing death or punishment. If anyone's faith is given credence even after death it is out of Divine mercy and not due to the law.

An example of this is when Holy Prophet ? brought his beloved mother back to life to bless her with faith, which became accepted in the court of Allah Almighty. Now she is a believer and among the Companions of the Holy Prophet ?.

Ibn-Kathir

The tafsir of Surah Muminun verse 85 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Muminun ayat 82 which provides the complete commentary from verse 82 through 85.

(40:85) But their believing after they had seen Our chastisement did not avail them. That has been Allah’s Way concerning His servants.[113] And the unbelievers courted utter loss, then and there.

Ala-Maududi

(40:85) But their believing after they had seen Our chastisement did not avail them. That has been Allah’s Way concerning His servants.[113] And the unbelievers courted utter loss, then and there.


113. “Allah’s established way”: the Law that repentance and faith are beneficial only till the time man is not seized by the torment of Allah or death. Believing or repenting after the torment has arrived or the signs of death have appeared, is not acceptable to Allah.

(85) But never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment. [It is] the established way of Allāh which has preceded among His servants. And the disbelievers thereupon lost [all].

Surah Ghafir All Ayat (Verses)

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