ayah_text: And the soldiers of Iblees, all together.

ayah_text_ar: وَجُنُودُ إِبْلِيسَ أَجْمَعُونَ


ayah_text: They will say while they dispute therein,

ayah_text_ar: قَالُوا۟ وَهُمْ فِيهَا يَخْتَصِمُونَ

ayah_translator: Saheeh International

ayah_language: English

ayah_tafsir: MISSING

surah_name_english: Ash-Shu'ara

surah_name_arab: الشعراء

surah_revelation_place: Mecca

surah_meaning: The Poets

surah_type: meccan

tafsir_language: English

tafsir_author: Hafiz Ibn Kathir

tafsir_name: Tafsir Ibn Kathir


ayah_text: "By Allah, we were indeed in manifest error

ayah_text_ar: تَٱللَّهِ إِن كُنَّا لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ


ayah_text: When we equated you with the Lord of the worlds.

ayah_text_ar: إِذْ نُسَوِّيكُم بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ


ayah_text: And no one misguided us except the criminals.

ayah_text_ar: وَمَآ أَضَلَّنَآ إِلَّا ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ


ayah_text: So now we have no intercessors

ayah_text_ar: فَمَا لَنَا مِن شَـٰفِعِينَ


ayah_text: And not a devoted friend.

ayah_text_ar: وَلَا صَدِيقٍ حَمِيمٍ


ayah_text: Then if we only had a return to the world and could be of the believers... "

ayah_text_ar: فَلَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

ayah_text_ar: إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

ayah_text_ar: وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ


ayah_text: The people of Noah denied the messengers

ayah_text_ar: كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## Nuh's preaching to His People, and Their Response

Here Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Nuh, peace be upon him, who was the first Messenger sent by Allah to the people of earth after they started to worship idols. Allah sent him to forbid that and to warn people of the consequences of idol worship. But his people belied him and continued their evil practice of worshipping idols besides Allah. Allah revealed that their disbelieving in him was akin to disbelieving in all the Messengers, So Allah said:

كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ \- إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ نُوحٌ أَلاَ تَتَّقُونَ

(The people of Nuh belied the Messengers. When their brother Nuh said to them: "Will you not have Taqwa") meaning, \`do you not fear Allah when you worship others instead of Him'

إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ

(I am a trustworthy Messenger to you.) means, \`I am the Messenger of Allah to you, faithfully fulfilling the mission with which Allah has sent me. I convey the Messages of my Lord to you, and I do not add anything to them or take anything away from them.,

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ وَمَآ أَسْـَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ

(So have Taqwa of Allah, and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it;) means, \`I do not want any payment for the advice I give you; I will save my reward for it with Allah. '

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

(So have Taqwa of Allah, and obey me.) \`It is clear to you that I am telling the truth and that I am faithfully fulfilling the mission with which Allah has entrusted me.'


ayah_text: When their brother Noah said to them, "Will you not fear Allah?

ayah_text_ar: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ نُوحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ


ayah_text: Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

ayah_text_ar: إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ


ayah_text: So fear Allah and obey me.

ayah_text_ar: فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ


ayah_text: And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

ayah_text_ar: وَمَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ


ayah_text: So fear Allah and obey me."

ayah_text_ar: فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ


ayah_text: They said, "Should we believe you while you are followed by the lowest class of people?"

ayah_text_ar: ۞ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَٱتَّبَعَكَ ٱلْأَرْذَلُونَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Demand of the People of Nuh and His Response

They said: "We do not believe in you, and we will not follow you and become equal to the meanest of the people, who follow you and believe in you, and they are the lowest among us."

قَالُواْ أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الاٌّرْذَلُونَ \- قَالَ وَمَا عِلْمِى بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ

(They said: "Shall we believe in you, when the inferior follow you" He said: "And what knowledge have I of what they used to do") meaning, \`what does it have to do with me if they follow me No matter what they used to do before, I do not have to check on them and examine their background; all I have to do is accept it if they believe in me; whatever is in their hearts is for Allah to know.'

إِنْ حِسَابُهُمْ إِلاَّ عَلَى رَبِّى لَوْ تَشْعُرُونَ \- وَمَآ أَنَاْ بِطَارِدِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(Their account is only with my Lord, if you could (but) know. And I am not going to drive away the believers.) It seems that they asked him to drive these people away, then they would follow him, but he refused to do that, and said:

وَمَآ أَنَاْ بِطَارِدِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ \- إِنْ أَنَا إِلاَّ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

(And I am not going to drive away the believers. I am only a plain warner.) meaning, \`I have been sent as a warner, and whoever obeys me and follows me and believes in me, then he belongs to me and I to him, whether he is noble or common, upper-class or lower-class.'


ayah_text: He said, "And what is my knowledge of what they used to do?

ayah_text_ar: قَالَ وَمَا عِلْمِى بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ


ayah_text: Their account is only upon my Lord, if you could perceive.

ayah_text_ar: إِنْ حِسَابُهُمْ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّى ۖ لَوْ تَشْعُرُونَ


ayah_text: And I am not one to drive away the believers.

ayah_text_ar: وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِطَارِدِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: I am only a clear warner."

ayah_text_ar: إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ


ayah_text: They said, "If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be of those who are stoned."

ayah_text_ar: قَالُوا۟ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يَـٰنُوحُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَرْجُومِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## His People's Threat, Nuh's Prayer against Them, and Their Destruction

Nuh stayed among his people for a long time, calling them to Allah night and day, in secret and openly. The more he repeated his call to them, the more determined were they to cling to their extreme disbelief and resist his call. In the end, they said:

لَئِنْ لَّمْ تَنْتَهِ ينُوحُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُرْجُومِينَ

(If you cease not, O Nuh you will surely be among those stoned.) meaning, \`if you do not stop calling us to your religion,'

لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُرْجُومِينَ

(you will surely be among those stoned.) meaning, \`we will stone you.' At that point, he prayed against them, and Allah responded to his prayer. Nuh said:

رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى كَذَّبُونِفَافْتَحْ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَتْحاً

(My Lord! Verily, my people have denied me. Therefore judge You between me and them.) This is like the Ayah:

فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنُّى مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ

(Then he invoked his Lord (saying): "I have been overcome, so help (me)!")(54:10) And Allah says here:

فَأَنجَيْنَـهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُ فِى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ \- ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا بَعْدُ الْبَـقِينَ

(And We saved him and those with him in the laden ship. Then We drowned the rest thereafter.) The "laden ship" is one that is filled with cargo and the couples, one pair from every species, that were carried in it. This Ayah means: \`We saved Nuh and all of those who followed him, and We drowned those who disbelieved in him and went against his commands, all of them.'

إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لأَيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

(Verily, in this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers. And verily your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.)

كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌ الْمُرْسَلِينَ \- إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ هُودٌ أَلاَ تَتَّقُونَ \- إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ

-

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

\-

وَمَآ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلاَّ عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ

-

أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةً تَعْبَثُونَ


ayah_text: He said, "My Lord, indeed my people have denied me.

ayah_text_ar: قَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى كَذَّبُونِ


ayah_text: Then judge between me and them with decisive judgement and save me and those with me of the believers."

ayah_text_ar: فَٱفْتَحْ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَتْحًا وَنَجِّنِى وَمَن مَّعِىَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: So We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.

ayah_text_ar: فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلْمَشْحُونِ


ayah_text: Then We drowned thereafter the remaining ones.

ayah_text_ar: ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا بَعْدُ ٱلْبَاقِينَ


ayah_text: Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.


ayah_text: And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.


ayah_text: 'Aad denied the messengers

ayah_text_ar: كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## Hud's preaching to His People \`Ad

Here Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Hud, when he called his people \`Ad. His people used to live in the Ahqaf, curved sand-hills near Hadramawt, on the borders of Yemen. They lived after the time of Nuh, as Allah says in Surat Al-A\`raf:

وَاذكُرُواْ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِن بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَزَادَكُمْ فِى الْخَلْقِ بَسْطَةً

(And remember that He made you successors after the people of Nuh and increased you amply in stature) (7:69). This refers to the fact that they were physically strong and well-built, and very violent, and very tall; they had also been given a great deal of provisions, wealth, gardens, rivers, sons, crops and fruits. Yet despite all of that, they worshipped others besides Allah. So Allah sent Hud, one of their own, as a Messenger bringing them good news and delivering warnings. He called them to worship Allah alone, and he warned them of Allah's wrath and punishment if they were to go against him and treating him harshly. He said to them, as Nuh had said to his people:

أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةً تَعْبَثُونَ

(Do you build on every Ri\` an Ayah for your amusement) The scholars of Tafsir differed over the meaning of the word Ri\`. In brief, they said that it refers to an elevated location at a well-known crossroads, where they would build a huge, dazzling, sturdy structure, this is why he said:

أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةً

(Do you build on every Ri\` an Ayah) i.e., a well-known landmark,

تَعْبَثُونَ

(for your amusement) meaning, \`you are only doing that for the purpose of frivolity, not because you need it, but for fun and to show off your strength.' So their Prophet, peace be upon him, denounced them for doing that, because it was a waste of time and exhausted people's bodies for no purpose, and kept them busy with something that was of no benefit in this world or the next. He said:

وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ

(And do you get for yourselves Masani\` as if you will live therein forever) Mujahid said, "This means fortresses built up strong and high and structures that are built to last."

لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ

(as if you will live therein forever) means, \`so that you may stay there forever, but that is not going to happen, because they will eventually cease to be, just as happened in the case of those who came before you.'

وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُمْ بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ

(And when you seize (somebody), seize you (him) as tyrants) They are described as being strong, violent and tyrannical.

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

(So, have Taqwa of Allah, and obey me.) \`Worship your Lord and obey your Messenger.' Then Hud began reminding them of the blessings that Allah had bestowed upon them. He said:

وَاتَّقُواْ الَّذِى أَمَدَّكُمْ بِمَا تَعْلَمُونَ \- أَمَدَّكُمْ بِأَنْعَـمٍ وَبَنِينَ \- وَجَنَّـتٍ وَعُيُونٍ \- إِنِّى أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(And have Taqwa of Him, Who has aided you with all that you know. He has aided you with cattle and children, and gardens and springs. Verily, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day.) meaning, \`if you disbelieve and oppose (your Prophet).' So he called them to Allah with words of encouragement and words of warning, but it was to no avail.

قَالُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَوَعَظْتَ أَمْ لَمْ تَكُنْ مِّنَ الْوَعِظِينَ \- إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ خُلُقُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ \- وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ


ayah_text: When their brother Hud said to them, "Will you not fear Allah?

ayah_text_ar: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ هُودٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ


ayah_text: Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

ayah_text_ar: إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ


ayah_text: So fear Allah and obey me.

ayah_text_ar: فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ


ayah_text: And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.


ayah_text: Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves,

ayah_text_ar: أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةً تَعْبَثُونَ


ayah_text: And take for yourselves palaces and fortresses that you might abide eternally?

ayah_text_ar: وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ


ayah_text: And when you strike, you strike as tyrants.

ayah_text_ar: وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُم بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ


ayah_text: And fear He who provided you with that which you know,

ayah_text_ar: وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَمَدَّكُم بِمَا تَعْلَمُونَ


ayah_text: Provided you with grazing livestock and children

ayah_text_ar: أَمَدَّكُم بِأَنْعَـٰمٍ وَبَنِينَ


ayah_text: And gardens and springs.

ayah_text_ar: وَجَنَّـٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ


ayah_text: Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."

ayah_text_ar: إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ


ayah_text: They said, "It is all the same to us whether you advise or are not of the advisors.

ayah_text_ar: قَالُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَوَعَظْتَ أَمْ لَمْ تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْوَٰعِظِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Response of the People of Hud, and Their Punishment

Allah tells us how the people of Hud responded to him after he had warned them, encouraged them, and clearly explained the truth to them.

قَالُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَوَعَظْتَ أَمْ لَمْ تَكُنْ مِّنَ الْوَعِظِينَ

(They said: "It is the same to us whether you preach or be not of those who preach.") meaning, \`we will not give up our ways.'

وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِى ءالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

(And we shall not leave our gods for your (mere) saying! And we are not believers in you) (11:53). This is how it was, as Allah says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ

(Verily, those who disbelieve, it is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe) (2:6).

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ

(Truly, those, against whom the Word of your Lord has been justified, will not believe) (10:96-97). And they said:

إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ خُلُقُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

(This is no other than Khuluq of the ancients.) Some scholars read this: "Khalq". According to Ibn Mas\`ud and according to \`Abdullah bin \`Abbas -- as reported from Al-\`Awfi -- and \`Alqamah and Mujahid, they meant, "What you have brought to us is nothing but the tales (Akhlaq) of the ancients." This is like what the idolators of Quraysh said:

وَقَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِىَ تُمْلَى عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً

(And they say: "Tales of the ancients, which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.") (25:5) And Allah said:

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ إِفْكٌ افْتَرَاهُ وَأَعَانَهُ عَلَيْهِ قَوْمٌ ءَاخَرُونَ فَقَدْ جَآءُوا ظُلْماً وَزُوراً وَقَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

(Those who disbelieve say: "This is nothing but a lie that he has invented, and others have helped him in it. In fact, they have produced an injustice and a lie." And they say: "Tales of the ancients...") (25:4-5)

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

(And when it is said to them: "What is it that your Lord has sent down" They say: "Tales of the ancient!") (16:24). Some other scholars recited it,

إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ خُلُقُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

(This is no other than Khuluq of the ancients,) "as Khuluq," meaning their religion. What they were following was the religion of the ancients, their fathers and grandfathers, as if they were saying: "We are following them, we will live as they lived and die as they died, and there will be no resurrection and no judgement." Hence they said:

وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

(And we are not going to be punished.) Allah's saying;

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَهْلَكْنَـهُمْ

(So they denied him, and We destroyed them.) meaning, they continued to disbelieve and stubbornly oppose Allah's Prophet Hud, so Allah destroyed them. The means of their destruction has been described in more than one place in the Qur'an: Allah sent against them a strong and furious wind, i.e., a fiercely blowing wind that was intensely cold. Thus the means of their destruction was suited to their nature, for they were the strongest and fiercest of people, so Allah overpowered them with something that was even stronger and fiercer than them, as Allah says:

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ \- إِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ

(Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with \`Ad of Iram Possesors of the pillars) (89:6-7). This refers to the former \`Ad, as Allah says:

وَأَنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ عَاداً الاٍّولَى

(And that it is He Who destroyed the former \`Ad) (53:50). They were descendents of Iram bin Sam bin Nuh,

ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ

(Possesors of the pillars) They used to live among pillars. Those who claim that Iram was a city take this idea from Isra'iliyyat narrations, from the words of Ka\`b and Wahb, but there is no real basis for that. Allah says:

الَّتِى لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِى الْبِلَـدِ

(The like of which were not created in the land) (89:8). meaning, nothing like this tribe was created in terms of might, power and tyranny. If what was meant was a city, it would have said, "The like of which was not built in the land." And Allah says:

فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَقَالُواْ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَكَانُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ

(As for \`Ad, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said: "Who is mightier than us in strength" See they not that Allah Who created them was mightier in strength than them. And they used to deny Our Ayat!) (41:15) And Allah says:

وَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَأُهْلِكُواْ بِرِيحٍ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ

(And as for \`Ad, they were destroyed by a furious violent wind!) until His saying:

حُسُوماً

(in succession) (69:6-7) meaning, consecutively (i.e., seven nights and eight days).

فَتَرَى الْقَوْمَ فِيهَا صَرْعَى كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ خَاوِيَةٍ

(so that you could see men lying overthrown (destroyed), as if they were hollow trunks of date palms!) (69:7) means, they were left as headless bodies, because the wind would come and carry one of them, then drop him on his head, so that his brains were spilled out, his head was broken and he was thrown aside, as if they were uprooted stems of date-palms. They used to build fortresses in the mountains and caves, and they dug ditches half as deep as a man is tall, but that did not help them against the command of Allah at all.

إِنَّ أَجَلَ اللَّهِ إِذَا جَآءَ لاَ يُؤَخَّرُ

(Verily, the term given by Allah, when it comes, cannot be delayed) (71:4). Allah says here:

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَهْلَكْنَـهُمْ

(So they denied him, and We destroyed them.)


ayah_text: This is not but the custom of the former peoples,

ayah_text_ar: إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا خُلُقُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ


ayah_text: And we are not to be punished."

ayah_text_ar: وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ


ayah_text: And they denied him, so We destroyed them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

ayah_text_ar: فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَهْلَكْنَـٰهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

ayah_text_ar: وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ


ayah_text: Thamud denied the messengers

ayah_text_ar: كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## Salih and the People of Thamud

Here Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Salih, whom He sent to his people Thamud. They were Arabs living in the city of Al-Hijr -- which is between Wadi Al-Qura and Greater Syria. Their location is well known. In our explanation of Surat Al-A\`raf, we mentioned the Hadiths which tell how the Messenger of Allah passed by their dwelling place when he wanted to launch a raid on Syria. He went as far as Tabuk, then he went back to Al-Madinah to prepare himself for the campaign. Thamud came after \`Ad and before Ibrahim, peace be upon him. Their Prophet Salih called them to Allah, to worship Him alone with no partner or associate, and to obey whatever commands were conveyed to them, but they refused, rejecting him and opposing him. He told them that he did not seek any reward from them for his call to them, but that he would seek the reward for that with Allah. Then he reminded them of the blessings of Allah.


ayah_text: When their brother Salih said to them, "Will you not fear Allah?

ayah_text_ar: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ صَـٰلِحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ


ayah_text: Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

ayah_text_ar: إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ


ayah_text: So fear Allah and obey me.

ayah_text_ar: فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ


ayah_text: And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.

ayah_text_ar: وَمَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ


ayah_text: Will you be left in what is here, secure from death,

ayah_text_ar: أَتُتْرَكُونَ فِى مَا هَـٰهُنَآ ءَامِنِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## A Reminder to Them of their Circumstances and the Blessings

They enjoyed Salih preached to them, warning them that the punishment of Allah could overtake them and reminding them of the blessings that Allah had bestowed upon them, by giving them ample provision and making them safe from all kinds of dangers, giving them gardens and flowing springs, and bringing forth for them crops and fruits.

وَنَخْلٍ طَلْعُهَا هَضِيمٌ

(and date palms with soft clusters.) Al-\`Awfi narrated from Ibn \`Abbas, "Ripe and rich." \`Ali bin Abi Talhah narrated from Ibn \`Abbas that this meant growing luxuriantly. Isma\`il bin Abi Khalid narrated from \`Amr bin Abi \`Amr -- who met the Companions -- from Ibn \`Abbas that this means, "When it becomes ripe and soft." This was narrated by Ibn Abi Hatim, then he said: "And something similar was narrated from Abu Salih."

وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتاً فَـرِهِينَ

(And you hew out in the mountains, houses with great skill.) Ibn \`Abbas and others said, "With great skill." According to another report from him: "They were greedy and extravagant." This was the view of Mujahid and another group. There is no contradiction between the two views, because they built the houses which they carved in the mountains as a form of extravagant play, with no need for them as dwelling places. They were highly skilled in the arts of masonry and stone-carving, as is well known to anyone who has seen their structures. So, Salih said to them:

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

(So, have Taqwa of Allah, and obey me.) Pay attention to that which could benefit you in this world and the Hereafter; worshipping your Lord Who created you, who granted you provisions so that you could worship Him alone and glorify Him morning and evening.

وَلاَ تُطِيعُواْ أَمْرَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ \- الَّذِينَ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ يُصْلِحُونَ

(And follow not the command of the extravagant, who make mischief in the land, and reform not.) meaning, their chiefs and leaders, who called them to Shirk, disbelief and opposition to the truth.

قَالُواْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ \- مَآ أَنتَ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا فَأْتِ بِـَايَةٍ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ \- قَالَ هَـذِهِ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ \- وَلاَ تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ \- فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَصْبَحُواْ نَـدِمِينَ \- فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لأَيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: Within gardens and springs

ayah_text_ar: فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ


ayah_text: And fields of crops and palm trees with softened fruit?

ayah_text_ar: وَزُرُوعٍ وَنَخْلٍ طَلْعُهَا هَضِيمٌ


ayah_text: And you carve out of the mountains, homes, with skill.

ayah_text_ar: وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَـٰرِهِينَ


ayah_text: And do not obey the order of the transgressors,

ayah_text_ar: وَلَا تُطِيعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ


ayah_text: Who cause corruption in the land and do not amend."

ayah_text_ar: ٱلَّذِينَ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ


ayah_text: They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.

ayah_text_ar: قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَحَّرِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Response of Thamud, Their Demand for a Sign, and Their Punishment

Allah tells us how Thamud responded to their Prophet Salih, upon him be peace, when he called them to worship their Lord, may He be glorified.

قَالُواْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ

(They said: "You are only of those bewitched!") Mujahid said, "They meant he was one affected by witchcraft." Then they said:

مَآ أَنتَ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا

(You are but a human being like us.) meaning, \`how can you receive Revelation when we do not' This is like the Ayah where they are described as saying:

أَءُلْقِىَ الذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِن بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌ \- سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَداً مَّنِ الْكَذَّابُ الاٌّشِرُ

("Is it that the Reminder is sent to him alone from among us Nay, he is an insolent liar!" Tomorrow they will come to know who is the liar, the insolent one!) (54:26-27) Then they asked him for a sign to prove that what he brought to them from their Lord was the truth. A crowd of them gathered and demanded that he immediately bring forth from the rock a she-camel that was ten months pregnant, and they pointed to a certain rock in their midst. Allah's Prophet Salih made them promise that if he responded to their request, they would believe in him and follow him. So they agreed to that. The Prophet of Allah Salih, peace be upon him, stood and prayed, then he prayed to Allah to grant them their request. Then the rock to which they had pointed split open, revealing a she-camel that was ten months pregnant, excactly as they had requested. So some of them believed, but most of them disbelieved.

قَالَ هَـذِهِ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ

(He said: "Here is a she-camel: it has a right to drink (water), and you have a right to drink (water) (each) on a day, known.) meaning, \`she will drink from your water one day, and on the next day you will drink from it.'

وَلاَ تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(And touch her not with harm, lest the torment of a Great Day should seize you.) He warned them of the punishment of Allah if they should do her any harm. The she-camel stayed among them for a while, drinking the water, eating leaves and grazing, and they benefitted from her milk which they took in sufficient quantities for every one to drink his fill. After this had gone on for a long time, and the time for their destruction drew near, they conspired to kill her:

فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَصْبَحُواْ نَـدِمِينَ فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ

(But they killed her, and then they became regretful. So, the torment overtook them.) Their land was shaken by a strong earthquake, and there came to them an overwhelming Sayhah (shout) which took their hearts from their places. They were overtaken by events which they were not expecting, so they were left (dead), lying prostrate in their homes.

إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لأَيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

(Verily, in this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers. And verily your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.)


ayah_text: You are but a man like ourselves, so bring a sign, if you should be of the truthful."

ayah_text_ar: مَآ أَنتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا فَأْتِ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ


ayah_text: He said, "This is a she-camel. For her is a time of drink, and for you is a time of drink, each on a known day.

ayah_text_ar: قَالَ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ


ayah_text: And do not touch her with harm, lest you be seized by the punishment of a terrible day."

ayah_text_ar: وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ


ayah_text: But they hamstrung her and so became regretful.

ayah_text_ar: فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ نَـٰدِمِينَ


ayah_text: And the punishment seized them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

ayah_text_ar: فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.


ayah_text: The people of Lot denied the messengers

ayah_text_ar: كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## Lut and His Call

Here Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Lut, peace be upon him. He was Lut bin Haran bin Azar, the nephew of Ibrahim Al-Khalil, upon him be peace. Allah sent him to a mighty nation during the lifetime of Ibrahim, peace be upon them both. They lived in Sadum (Sodom) and its environs, where Allah destroyed them and turned the area into a putrid, stinking lake, which is well-known in the land of Al-Ghur the Jordan Valley, bordering the mountains of Jerusalem, between the mountains and the land of Al-Karak and Ash-Shawbak. He called them to Allah, to worship Him alone with no partner or associate, and to obey the Messenger whom Allah sent to them. He forbade from disobeying Allah and committing the sin that they had invented which was unknown on earth before their time; intercourse with males instead of with females. Allah said:

أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَـلَمِينَ \- وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِّنْ أَزْوَجِكُمْ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ \- قَالُواْ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يلُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ \- قَالَ إِنِّى لِعَمَلِكُمْ مِّنَ الْقَـلِينَ


ayah_text: When their brother Lot said to them, "Will you not fear Allah?

ayah_text_ar: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ لُوطٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ


ayah_text: Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.

ayah_text_ar: إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ


ayah_text: So fear Allah and obey me.

ayah_text_ar: فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ


ayah_text: And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.


ayah_text: Do you approach males among the worlds

ayah_text_ar: أَتَأْتُونَ ٱلذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## Lut's Denunciation of His People's Deeds, Their Response and Their Punishment

The Prophet of Allah forbade them from committing evil deeds and intercourse with males, and he taught them that they should have intercourse with their wives whom Allah had created for them. Their response was only to say:

لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يلُوطُ

(If you cease not, O Lut,) meaning, \`if you do not give up what you have brought,'

لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ

(verily, you will be one of those who are driven out!) meaning, \`we will expel you from among us.' This is like the Ayah,

فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ أَخْرِجُواْ ءَالَ لُوطٍ مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ

(There was no other answer given by his people except that they said: "Drive out the family of Lut from your city. Verily, these are men who want to be clean and pure!") (27:56). When he saw that they would not give up their ways, and that they were persisting in their misguidance, he declared his innocence of them, saying:

إِنِّى لِعَمَلِكُمْ مِّنَ الْقَـلِينَ

(I am, indeed, of those who disapprove with severe anger and fury) \`Of those who are outraged, I do not like it and I do not accept it, and I have nothing to do with you. ' Then he prayed to Allah against them and said:

رَبِّ نَّجِنِى وَأَهْلِى مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

(My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do.) Allah says:

فَنَجَّيْنَـهُ وَأَهْلَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ \- إِلاَّ عَجُوزاً فِى الْغَـبِرِينَ

(So, We saved him and his family, all. Except an old woman among those who remained behind.) This was his wife, who was a bad old woman. She stayed behind and was destroyed with whoever else was left. This is similar to what Allah says about them in Surat Al-A\`raf and Surah Hud, and in Surat Al-Hijr, where Allah commanded him to take his family at night, except for his wife, and not to turn around when they heard the Sayhah as it came upon his people. So they patiently obeyed the command of Allah and persevered, and Allah sent upon the people a punishment which struck them all, and rained upon them stones of baked clay, piled up. Allah says:

ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا الاٌّخَرِينَ وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَّطَرًا

(Then afterward We destroyed the others. And We rained on them a rain) until Allah's saying;

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

(And verily, your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. )

كَذَّبَ أَصْحَـبُ لْـَيْكَةِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ \- إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ شُعَيْبٌ أَلاَ تَتَّقُونَ إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ


ayah_text: And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing."

ayah_text_ar: وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَٰجِكُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ


ayah_text: They said, "If you do not desist, O Lot, you will surely be of those evicted."

ayah_text_ar: قَالُوا۟ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ يَـٰلُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُخْرَجِينَ


ayah_text: He said, "Indeed, I am, toward your deed, of those who detest it.

ayah_text_ar: قَالَ إِنِّى لِعَمَلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَالِينَ


ayah_text: My Lord, save me and my family from the consequence of what they do."

ayah_text_ar: رَبِّ نَجِّنِى وَأَهْلِى مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ


ayah_text: So We saved him and his family, all,

ayah_text_ar: فَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ أَجْمَعِينَ


ayah_text: Except an old woman among those who remained behind.

ayah_text_ar: إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِى ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ


ayah_text: Then We destroyed the others.

ayah_text_ar: ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا ٱلْـَٔاخَرِينَ


ayah_text: And We rained upon them a rain of stones, and evil was the rain of those who were warned.

ayah_text_ar: وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًا ۖ فَسَآءَ مَطَرُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ


ayah_text: Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.

ayah_text_ar: إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: The companions of the thicket denied the messengers

ayah_text_ar: كَذَّبَ أَصْحَـٰبُ لْـَٔيْكَةِ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## Shu\`ayb and His Preaching to the Dwellers of Al-Aykah

The companions of Al-Aykah were the people of Madyan, according to the most correct view. The Prophet of Allah Shu\`ayb was one of them, but it does not say here, their brother Shu\`ayb, because they called themselves by a name denoting their deification of Al-Aykah, which was a tree which they used to worship; it was said that it was a group of trees which were tangled, like trees in a thicket. For this reason, when Allah said that the companions of Al-Aykah denied the Messengers, He did not say, "When their brother Shu\`ayb said to them." Rather, He said:

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ شُعَيْبٌ

(When Shu\`ayb said to them) He is not described as belonging to them because of the meaning that was inherent in the name given to them even though he was their brother by blood. Some people did not notice this point, so they thought that the dwellers of Al-Aykah were different from the people of Madyan, and claimed that Shu\`ayb was sent to two nations; some said that he was sent to three.

أَصْحَـبُ لْـَيْكَةِ

(The companions of Al-Aykah) were the people of Shu\`ayb. This was the view of Ishaq bin Bishr. Someone besides Juwaybir said, "The dwellers of Al-Aykah and the people of Madyan are one and the same." And Allah knows best. Although there is another opinion that they were different nations with two identities, the correct view is that they were one nation, but they are described differently in different places. Shu\`ayb preached to them and commanded them to be fair in their weights and measures, the same as is mentioned in the story of Madyan, which also indicates that they were the same nation.

أَوْفُواْ الْكَيْلَ وَلاَ تَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُخْسِرِينَ \- وَزِنُواْ بِالْقِسْطَاسِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ

وَلاَ تَبْخَسُواْ النَّاسَ أَشْيَآءهُمْ وَلاَ تَعْثَوْاْ فِى الاْرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ-


ayah_text: When Shu'ayb said to them, "Will you not fear Allah?

ayah_text_ar: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ شُعَيْبٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ


ayah_text: Give full measure and do not be of those who cause loss.

ayah_text_ar: ۞ أَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُخْسِرِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Command to give Full Measure

Allah commanded them to give full measure, and forbade them to give short measure. He said:

أَوْفُواْ الْكَيْلَ وَلاَ تَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُخْسِرِينَ

(Give full measure, and cause no loss.) meaning, \`when you give to people, give them full measure, and do not cause loss to them by giving them short measure, while taking full measure when you are the ones who are taking. Give as you take, and take as you give.'

وَزِنُواْ بِالْقِسْطَاسِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ

(And weigh with the true and straight balance.) The balance is the scales.

وَلاَ تَبْخَسُواْ النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ

(And defraud not people by reducing their things,) means, do not shortchange them.

وَلاَ تَعْثَوْاْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

(nor do evil, making corruption and mischief in the land.) means, by engaging in banditry. This is like the Ayah,

وَلاَ تَقْعُدُواْ بِكُلِّ صِرَطٍ تُوعِدُونَ

(And sit not on every road, threatening) (7:86).

وَاتَّقُواْ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَالْجِبِلَّةَ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

(And have Taqwa of Him Who created you and the generations of the men of old. ) Here he is frightening them with the punishment of Allah Who created them and created their forefathers. This is like when Musa, peace be upon him, said:

رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

(Your Lord and the Lord of your ancient fathers!) (26:26). Ibn \`Abbas, Mujahid, As-Suddi, Sufyan bin \`Uyaynah and \`Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said:

وَالْجِبِلَّةَ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

(the generations of the men of old.) means, He created the early generations. And Ibn Zayd recited:

وَلَقَدْ أَضَلَّ مِنْكُمْ جِبِلاًّ كَثِيراً

(And indeed he (Shaytan) did lead astray a great multitude of you) (36:62).

قَالُواْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ

وَمَآ أَنتَ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مّثْلُنَا وَإِن نَّظُنُّكَ لَمِنَ الْكَـذِبِينَ-

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفاً مّنَ السَّمَآء إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ-

قَالَ رَبّى أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ-

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ-


ayah_text: And weigh with an even balance.

ayah_text_ar: وَزِنُوا۟ بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِ


ayah_text: And do not deprive people of their due and do not commit abuse on earth, spreading corruption.

ayah_text_ar: وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ


ayah_text: And fear He who created you and the former creation."

ayah_text_ar: وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلْجِبِلَّةَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ


ayah_text: They said, "You are only of those affected by magic.

ayah_text_ar: قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَحَّرِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Response of Shu\`ayb's People, Their Disbelief in Him and the coming of the Punishment upon Them

Allah tells us how his people responded, and how it was like the response of Thamud to their Messenger -- for they were of like mind -- when they said:

إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ

(You are only one of those bewitched!) meaning, \`you are one of those who are affected by witchcraft.'

وَمَآ أَنتَ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَإِن نَّظُنُّكَ لَمِنَ الْكَـذِبِينَ

(You are but a human being like us and verily, we think that you are one of the liars!) means, \`we think you are deliberately lying to us in what you say, and Allah has not sent you to us.'

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفاً مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ

(So cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us,) Ad-Dahhak said: "One side of the heavens." Qatadah said: "A piece of the heaven." As-Suddi said: "A punishment from heaven." This is like what the Quraysh said, as Allah tells us:

وَقَالُواْ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّى تَفْجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ الاٌّرْضِ يَنْبُوعًا

(And they say: "We shall not believe in you, until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us) until:

أَوْ تُسْقِطَ السَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمْتَ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا أَوْ تَأْتِىَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْمَلَـئِكَةِ قَبِيلاً

(Or you cause the heaven to fall upon us in pieces, as you have pretended, or you bring Allah and the angels before (us) face to face.") (17:90-92)

وَإِذْ قَالُواْ اللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَـذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ

(And (remember) when they said: "O Allah! If this is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky....") (8:32). Similarly, these ignorant disbelievers said:

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفاً مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ

(So, cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us, if you are of the truthful!)

قَالَ رَبِّى أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

(He said: "My Lord is the Best Knower of what you do.") means, \`Allah knows best about you, and if you deserve that, He will punish you therewith, and He will not treat you unjustly.' So this is what happened to them -- as they asked for -- an exact recompense. Allah says:

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(But they denied him, so the torment of the Day of Shadow seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day.) This is what they asked for, when they asked for a part of the heaven to fall upon them. Allah made their punishment in the form of intense heat which overwhelmed them for seven days, and nothing could protect them from it. Then He sent a cloud to shade them, so they ran towards it to seek its shade from the heat. When all of them had gathered underneath it, Allah sent sparks of fire and flames and intense heat upon them, and caused the earth to convulse beneath them, and He sent against them a mighty Sayhah which destroyed their souls. Allah says:

إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day.) Allah has mentioned how they were destroyed in three places in the Qur'an, in each of which it is described in a manner which fits the context. In Surat Al-A\`raf He says that the earthquake seized them, and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes. This was because they said:

لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يـشُعَيْبُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا

("We shall certainly drive you out, O Shu\`ayb, and those who have believed with you from our town, or else you (all) shall return to our religion.") (7:88). They had sought to scare the Prophet of Allah and those who followed him, so they were seized by the earthquake. In Surah Hud, Allah says:

وَأَخَذَتِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ الصَّيْحَةُ

(And As-Sayhah seized the wrongdoers) (11:94). This was because they mocked the Allah's Prophet when they said:

أَصَلَوَتُكَ تَأْمُرُكَ أَن نَّتْرُكَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءابَاؤُنَآ أَوْ أَن نَّفْعَلَ فِى أَمْوَالِنَا مَا نَشَؤُا إِنَّكَ لاّنتَ الْحَلِيمُ الرَّشِيدُ

("Does your Salah command that we give up what our fathers used to worship, or that we give up doing what we like with our property Verily, you are the forbearer, right-minded!") (11:87). They had said this in a mocking, sarcastic tone, so it was befitting that the Sayhah should come and silence them, as Allah says:

فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ

(So As-Saihah overtook them) (15:73).

وَأَخَذَتِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ الصَّيْحَةُ

(And As-Saihah seized the wrongdoers) (11:94). And here, they said:

فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفاً مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ

(So, cause a piece of the heaven to fall on us,) in a stubborn and obstinate manner. So, it was fitting that something they never thought would happen should befall them:

فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(so the torment of the Day of Shadow seized them. Indeed that was the torment of a Great Day.) Muhammad bin Jarir narrated from Yazid Al-Bahili: "I asked Ibn \`Abbas about this Ayah:

فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ

(so the torment of the Day of Shadow seized them. ) He said: \`Allah sent upon them thunder and intense heat, and it terrified them so they entered their houses and it pursued them to the innermost parts of their houses and terrified them further, and they ran fleeing from their houses into the fields. Then Allah sent upon them clouds which shaded them from the sun, and they found it cool and pleasant, so they called out to one another until they had all gathered beneath the cloud, then Allah sent fire upon them.' Ibn \`Abbas said, \`That was the torment of the Day of Shadow, indeed that was the torment of a Great Day."'

إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لأَيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ \- وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

(Verily, in this is an Ayah, yet most of them are not believers. And verily, your Lord, He is truly, the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.) (26:8-9) meaning, He is All-Mighty in His punishment of the disbelievers, and Most Merciful towards His believing servants.


ayah_text: You are but a man like ourselves, and indeed, we think you are among the liars.

ayah_text_ar: وَمَآ أَنتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَإِن نَّظُنُّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ


ayah_text: So cause to fall upon us fragments of the sky, if you should be of the truthful."

ayah_text_ar: فَأَسْقِطْ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ


ayah_text: He said, "My Lord is most knowing of what you do."

ayah_text_ar: قَالَ رَبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ


ayah_text: And they denied him, so the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of a terrible day.

ayah_text_ar: فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ ٱلظُّلَّةِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ


ayah_text: And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

ayah_text_ar: وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ


ayah_text: And indeed, the Qur'an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.

ayah_text_ar: وَإِنَّهُۥ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Qur'an was revealed by Allah

Here Allah tells us about the Book which He revealed to His servant and Messenger Muhammad.

وَأَنَّهُ

(And truly, this) refers to the Qur'an, which at the beginning of the Surah was described as

وَمَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن ذِكْرٍ مِّنَ الرَّحْمَـنِ مُحْدَثٍ

(and never comes there unto them a Reminder as a recent revelation from the Most Gracious...) (26:5).

لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ

(is a revelation from the Lord of Al-\`Alamin.) means, Allah has sent it down to you and revealed it to you.

نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الاٌّمِينُ

(Which the trustworthy Ruh has brought down.) This refers to Jibril, peace be upon him. This was the view of more than one of the Salaf: Ibn \`Abbas, Muhammad bin Ka\`b, Qatadah, \`Atiyyah Al-\`Awfi, As-Suddi, Ad-Dahhak, Az-Zuhri and Ibn Jurayj. This is an issue concerning which there is no dispute. Az-Zuhri said, "This is like the Ayah:

قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ

(Say: "Whoever is an enemy to Jibril -- for indeed he has brought it down to your heart by Allah's permission, confirming what came before it...") (2:97).

عَلَى قَلْبِكَ

(Upon your heart) \`O Muhammad, free from any contamination, with nothing added or taken away.'

لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنْذِرِينَ

(that you may be of the warners,) means, \`so that you may warn people with it of the punishment of Allah for those who go against it and disbelieve in it, and so that you may give glad tidings with it to the believers who follow it.'

بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ

(In the plain Arabic language.) meaning, \`this Qur'an which We have revealed to you, We have revealed in perfect and eloquent Arabic, so that it may be quite clear, leaving no room for excuses and establishing clear proof, showing the straight path.'

وَإِنَّهُ لَفِى زُبُرِ الاٌّوَّلِينَ أَوَلَمْيَكُن لَّهُمْ ءَايَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُ عُلَمَاءُ بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَوَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَـهُ عَلَى بَعْضِ الاٌّعْجَمِينَ


ayah_text: The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down

ayah_text_ar: نَزَلَ بِهِ ٱلرُّوحُ ٱلْأَمِينُ


ayah_text: Upon your heart, O Muhammad - that you may be of the warners -

ayah_text_ar: عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنذِرِينَ


ayah_text: In a clear Arabic language.

ayah_text_ar: بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ


ayah_text: And indeed, it is mentioned in the scriptures of former peoples.

ayah_text_ar: وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِى زُبُرِ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Qur'an was mentioned in the Previous Scriptures

Allah says: this Qur'an was mentioned and referred to in the previous Scriptures that were left behind by their Prophets who foretold it in ancient times and more recently. Allah took a covenant from them that they would follow it, and the last of them stood and addressed his people with the good news of Ahmad:

وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّراً بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِى مِن بَعْدِى اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ

(And (remember) when \`Isa, son of Maryam, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you, confirming the Tawrah before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.) (61:6) Zubur here refers to Books; Zubur is the plural of Az-Zabur, which is also the name used to refer to the Book given to Dawud. Allah says:

وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِى الزُّبُرِ

(And everything they have done is noted in the Az-Zubur.) (54:52), meaning, it is recorded against them in the books of the angels. Then Allah says:

أَوَلَمْيَكُن لَّهُمْ ءَايَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُ عُلَمَاءُ بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ

(Is it not a sign to them that the learned scholars of the Children of Israel knew it) meaning, is it not sufficient witness to the truth for them that the scholars of the Children of Israel found this Qur'an mentioned in the Scriptures which they study The meaning is: the fair-minded among them admitted that the attributes of Muhammad and his mission and his Ummah were mentioned in their Books, as was stated by those among them who believed, such as \`Abdullah bin Salam, Salman Al-Farisi and others who met the Prophet . Allah said:

الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِىَّ الأُمِّىَّ

(Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write ...) (7:157)

## The Intense Disbelief of Quraysh

Then Allah tells us how intense the disbelief of Quraysh was, and how stubbornly they resisted the Qur'an. If this Book with all its eloquence had been revealed to a non-Arab who did not know one word of Arabic, they still would not have believed in him. Allah says:

وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَـهُ عَلَى بَعْضِ الاٌّعْجَمِينَ

فَقَرَأَهُ عَلَيْهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ مُؤْمِنِينَ-

(And if We had revealed it unto any of the non-Arabs, And he had recited it unto them, they would not have believed in it.) And Allah says:

وَلَوْ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَاباً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَظَلُّواْ فِيهِ يَعْرُجُونَ لَقَالُواْ إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَـرُنَا

(And even if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they were to keep on ascending thereto. They would surely say: "Our eyes have been dazzled...") (15:14-15)

وَلَوْ أَنَّنَا نَزَّلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَـئِكَةَ وَكَلَّمَهُمُ الْمَوْتَى

(And even if We had sent down unto them angels, and the dead had spoken unto them...) (6:111)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ

(Truly, those, against whom the Word of your Lord has been justified, will not believe.) (10:96)

كَذَلِكَ سَلَكْنَاهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ \- لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ \- فَيَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ \- فَيَقُولُواْ هَلْ نَحْنُ مُنظَرُونَ \- أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ \- أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِن مَّتَّعْنَـهُمْ سِنِينَ \- ثُمَّ جَآءَهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ \- مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يُمَتَّعُونَ \- وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلاَّ لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ


ayah_text: And has it not been a sign to them that it is recognized by the scholars of the Children of Israel?

ayah_text_ar: أَوَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ ءَايَةً أَن يَعْلَمَهُۥ عُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ


ayah_text: And even if We had revealed it to one among the foreigners

ayah_text_ar: وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَـٰهُ عَلَىٰ بَعْضِ ٱلْأَعْجَمِينَ


ayah_text: And he had recited it to them perfectly, they would still not have been believers in it.

ayah_text_ar: فَقَرَأَهُۥ عَلَيْهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ مُؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: Thus have We inserted disbelief into the hearts of the criminals.

ayah_text_ar: كَذَٰلِكَ سَلَكْنَـٰهُ فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Deniers will never believe until They see the Torment

Allah says: \`thus We caused denial, disbelief, rejection and stubbornness to enter the hearts of the sinners.'

لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ

(They will not believe in it), i.e., the truth,

حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ

(until they see the painful torment.) means, when their excuses will be of no avail, and the curse will be upon them, and theirs will be an evil abode.

فَيَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً

(It shall come to them of a sudden,) means, the punishment of Allah will come upon them suddenly,

وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَفَيَقُولُواْ هَلْ نَحْنُ مُنظَرُونَ

(while they perceive it not. Then they will say: "Can we be respited") means, when they see the punishment, then they will wish they had a little more time so that they can obey Allah -- or so they claim. This is like the Ayah:

وَأَنذِرِ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ الْعَذَابُ

(And warn mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them) until:

مَا لَكُمْ مِّن زَوَالٍ

(that you would not leave) (14: 44). When every sinner and evildoer sees his punishment, he will feel intense regret. Such was the case of Fir\`awn, when Musa prayed against him:

رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلاّهُ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَالاً فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا

(Our Lord! "You have indeed bestowed on Fir\`awn and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the life of this world) until:

قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَّعْوَتُكُمَا

((Allah) said: "Verily, the invocation of you both is accepted.") (10:88-89). This supplication had an effect on Fir\`awn: he did not believe until he saw the painful torment:

حَتَّى إِذَآ أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِى ءَامَنَتْ بِهِ بَنواْ إِسْرَءِيلَ

(till when drowning overtook him, he said: "I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe.") until:

وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

(and you were one of the mischief-makers) (10:90-91). And Allah says:

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ

(so when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone...") (40:84-85).

أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

(Would they then wish for Our torment to be hastened on) This is a denunciation and a threat, because they used to say to the Messenger, by way of denial, thinking it unlikely ever to happen:

ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ

(Bring Allah's torment upon us) (29:29). This is as Allah said:

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ

(And they ask you to hasten on the torment...) (29:53-55). Then Allah says:

أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِن مَّتَّعْنَـهُمْ سِنِينَ \- ثُمَّ جَآءَهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ \- مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يُمَتَّعُونَ

(Think, if We do let them enjoy for years, and afterwards comes to them that which they had been promised, all that with which they used to enjoy shall not avail them.) meaning, \`even if We delay the matter and give them respite for a short while or for a long time, then the punishment of Allah comes upon them, what good will their life of luxury do them then'

كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَـهَا

(The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon or a morning) (79:46). And Allah says:

يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ أَن يُعَمَّرَ

(Everyone of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from punishment) (2:96).

وَمَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّى

(And what will his wealth avail him when he goes down) (92:11) Allah says here:

مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يُمَتَّعُونَ

(All that with which they used to enjoy shall not avail them.) According to an authentic Hadith:

«يُؤْتَى بِالْكَافِرِ فَيُغْمَسُ فِي النَّارِ غَمْسَةً ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ: هَلْ رَأَيْتَ خَيْرًا قَطُّ؟ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا قَطُّ؟ فَيَقُولُ: لَا وَاللهِ يَا رَبِّ، وَيُؤتَى بِأَشَدِّ النَّاسِ بُؤْسًا كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَيُصْبَغُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ صَبْغَةً، ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ::َهلْ رَأَيْتَ بُؤْسًا قَطُّ؟ فَيَقُولُ: لَا وَاللهِ يَا رَب»

(The disbelievers will be brought and once dipped into the Fire, then it will be said to him: "Did you ever see anything good Did you ever see anything good" He will say, "No, O Lord!" Then the most miserable person who ever lived on earth will be brought, and he will be put in Paradise for a brief spell, then it will be said to him, "Did you ever see anything bad" He will say, "No, O Lord.") meaning: as if nothing ever happened. Then Allah tells us of His justice towards His creation, in that He does not destroy any nation until after He has left them with no excuse, by warning them, sending Messengers to them and establishing proof against them. He says:

وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلاَّ لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ

ذِكْرَى وَمَا كُنَّا ظَـلِمِينَ

(And never did We destroy a township but it had its warners by way of reminder, and We have never been unjust.) This is like the Ayat:

وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger) (17:15).

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ فِى أُمِّهَا رَسُولاً يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتِنَا

(And never will your Lord destroy the towns until He sends to their mother town a Messenger reciting to them Our Ayat.) until;

وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـلِمُونَ

(the people thereof are wrongdoers) (28:59).


ayah_text: They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment.

ayah_text_ar: لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ

ayah_tafsir: MISSING


ayah_text: And it will come to them suddenly while they perceive it not.

ayah_text_ar: فَيَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ


ayah_text: And they will say, "May we be reprieved?"

ayah_text_ar: فَيَقُولُوا۟ هَلْ نَحْنُ مُنظَرُونَ


ayah_text: So for Our punishment are they impatient?

ayah_text_ar: أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونَ


ayah_text: Then have you considered if We gave them enjoyment for years

ayah_text_ar: أَفَرَءَيْتَ إِن مَّتَّعْنَـٰهُمْ سِنِينَ


ayah_text: And then there came to them that which they were promised?

ayah_text_ar: ثُمَّ جَآءَهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ


ayah_text: They would not be availed by the enjoyment with which they were provided.

ayah_text_ar: مَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُمَتَّعُونَ


ayah_text: And We did not destroy any city except that it had warners

ayah_text_ar: وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ


ayah_text: As a reminder; and never have We been unjust.

ayah_text_ar: ذِكْرَىٰ وَمَا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ


ayah_text: And the devils have not brought the revelation down.

ayah_text_ar: وَمَا تَنَزَّلَتْ بِهِ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Qur'an was brought down by Jibril, not Shaytan

Allah tells us about His Book, which falsehood cannot approach from before or behind it, sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise. He states that it has been brought down by the trustworthy Ruh (i.e., Jibril) who is helped by Allah,

وَمَا تَنَزَّلَتْ بِهِ الشَّيَـطِينُ

(And it is not the Shayatin who have brought it down.) Then He tells us that it could not be the case for three reasons that the Shayatin brought it down. One is that it would not suit them, i.e., they have no desire to do so and they do not want to, because their nature is to corrupt and misguide people, but this contains words enjoining what is right and forbidding what is evil, and light, guidance and mighty proofs. There is a big difference between this and the Shayatin, Allah says:

وَمَا يَنبَغِى لَهُمْ

(Neither would it suit them)

وَمَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

(nor are they able.) meaning, even if they wanted to, they could not do it. Allah says:

لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَـذَا الْقُرْءَانَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَـشِعاً مُّتَصَدِّعاً مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ

(Had We sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rent asunder by the fear of Allah) (59:21). Then Allah explains that even if they wanted to and were able to bear it and convey it, they still would not be able to achieve that, because they were prevented from hearing the Qur'an when it was brought down, for the heavens were filled with guardians and shooting stars at the time when the Qur'an was being revealed to the Messenger of Allah , so none of the Shayatin could hear even one letter of it, lest there be any confusion in the matter. This is a part of Allah's mercy towards His servants, protection of His Laws, and support for His Book and His Messenger . Allah says:

إِنَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّمْعِ لَمَعْزُولُونَ

(Verily, they have been removed far from hearing it.) This is like what Allah tells us about the Jinn:

وَأَنَّا لَمَسْنَا السَّمَآءَ فَوَجَدْنَـهَا مُلِئَتْ حَرَساً شَدِيداً وَشُهُباً \- وَأَنَّا كُنَّا نَقْعُدُ مِنْهَا مَقَـعِدَ لِلسَّمْعِ فَمَن يَسْتَمِعِ الاٌّنَ يَجِدْ لَهُ شِهَاباً رَّصَداً

(And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires. And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.) until;

أَمْ أَرَادَ بِهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ رَشَداً

(or whether their Lord intends for them a right path) 72:8-10.


ayah_text: It is not allowable for them, nor would they be able.

ayah_text_ar: وَمَا يَنۢبَغِى لَهُمْ وَمَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ


ayah_text: Indeed they, from its hearing, are removed.

ayah_text_ar: إِنَّهُمْ عَنِ ٱلسَّمْعِ لَمَعْزُولُونَ


ayah_text: So do not invoke with Allah another deity and thus be among the punished.

ayah_text_ar: فَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُعَذَّبِينَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Command to warn His Tribe of near Kindred

Here Allah commands (His Prophet ) to worship Him alone, with no partner or associate, and tells him that whoever associates others in worship with Him, He will punish them. Then Allah commands His Messenger to warn his tribe of near kindred, i.e., those who were most closely related to him, and to tell them that nothing could save any of them except for faith in Allah. Allah also commanded him to be kind and gentle with the believing servants of Allah who followed him, and to disown those who disobeyed him, no matter who they were. Allah said:

فَإِنْ عَصَوْكَ فَقُلْ إِنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

(Then if they disobey you, say: "I am innocent of what you do.") This specific warning does not contradict the general warning; indeed it is a part of it, as Allah says elsewhere:

لِتُنذِرَ قَوْماً مَّآ أُنذِرَ ءَابَآؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غَـفِلُونَ

(In order that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are heedless.) (36:6),

لِّتُنذِرَ أُمَّ الْقُرَى وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا

(that you may warn the Mother of the Towns and all around it) (42:7),

وَأَنذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَن يُحْشَرُواْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ

(And warn therewith those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord) (6:51),

لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنْذِرَ بِهِ قَوْماً لُّدّاً

(that you may give glad tidings to those who have Taqwa, and warn with it the most quarrelsome people.) (19:97),

لاٌّنذِرَكُمْ بِهِ وَمَن بَلَغَ

(that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach) (6:19), and

وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الاٌّحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ

(but those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place) (11:17). According to Sahih Muslim, the Prophet said:

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَا يَسْمَعُ بِي أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ يَهُودِيٌّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ، ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِي إِلَّا دَخَلَ النَّار»

(By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, no one from these nations -- Jewish or Christian -- hears of me then does not believe in me, but he will enter Hell.) Many Hadiths have been narrated concerning the revelation of this Ayah, some of which we will quote below: Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Ibn \`Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "When Allah revealed the Ayah,

وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الاٌّقْرَبِينَ

(And warn your tribe of near kindred.), the Prophet went to As-Safa', climbed up and called out,

«يَا صَبَاحَاه»

(O people!) The people gathered around him, some coming of their own accord and others sending people on their behalf to find out what was happening. The Messenger of Allah said:

«يَا بَنِي عَبْدِالْمُطَّلِبِ، يَا بَنِي فِهْرٍ، يَااَبنِي لُؤَيَ، أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنَّ خَيْلًا بِسَفْحِ هَذَا الْجَبَلِ تُريدُ أَنْ تُغِيرَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَدَّقْتُمُونِي؟»

(O Bani \`Abd Al-Muttalib, O Bani Fihr, O Bani Lu'ayy! What do you think, if I told you that there was a cavalry at the foot of this mountain coming to attack you -- would you believe me) They said, "Yes." He said:

«فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَي عَذَابٍ شَدِيد»

(Then I warn you of a great punishment that is close at hand.) Abu Lahab said, "May you perish for the rest of the day! You only called us to tell us this" Then Allah revealed:

تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ

(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!) 111:1 This was also recorded by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i. Imam Ahmad recorded that \`A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her said: "When the Ayah:

وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الاٌّقْرَبِينَ

(And warn your tribe of near kindred) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah stood up and said:

«يَا فَاطِمَةُ ابْنَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ، يَا صَفِيَّةُ ابْنَةُ عَبْدِالْمُطَّلِبِ، يَا بَنِي عَبْدِالْمُطَّلِبِ، لَا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ مِنَ اللهِ شَيْئًا سَلُونِي مِنْ مَالِي مَا شِئْتُم»

(O Fatimah daughter of Muhammad, O Safiyyah daughter of \`Abd Al-Muttalib, O Bani \`Abd Al-Muttalib, I cannot help you before Allah. Ask me for whatever you want of my wealth.) This was recorded by Muslim. Imam Ahmad recorded that Qabisah bin Mukhariq and Zuhayr bin \`Amr said: "When the Ayah:

وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الاٌّقْرَبِينَ

(And warn your tribe of near kindred.) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah climbed on top of a rock on the side of a mountain and started to call out:

«يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ، إِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ، وَإِنَّمَا مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُكُمْ كَرَجُلٍ رَأَى الْعَدُوَّ فَذَهَبَ يَرْبَأُ أَهْلَهُ يَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْبِقُوهُ، فَجَعَلَ يُنَادِي وَيَهْتِفُ: يَا صَبَاحَاه»

(O Bani \`Abd Manaf, I am indeed a warner, and the parable of me and you is that of a man who sees the enemy so he goes to save his family, fearing that the enemy may reach them before he does.) And he started to call out, (O people!) It was also recorded by Muslim and An-Nasa'i. Allah's saying:

وَتَوكَّلْ عَلَى الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ

(And put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful,) means, \`in all your affairs, for He is your Helper, Protector and Supporter, and He is the One Who will cause you to prevail and will make your word supreme.'

الَّذِى يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

(Who sees you when you stand up. ) means, He is taking care of you. This is like the Ayah,

وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا

(So wait patiently for the decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes) (52:48) Ibn \`Abbas said that the Ayah,

الَّذِى يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

(Who sees you when you stand up.) means, "To pray." \`Ikrimah said: "He sees him when he stands and bows and prostrates." Al-Hasan said:

الَّذِى يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

(Who sees you when you stand up.) "When you pray alone." Ad-Dahhak said:

الَّذِى يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

(Who sees you when you stand up.) "When you are lying in bed and when you are sitting." Qatadah said:

الَّذِى يَرَاكَ

(Who sees you) "When you are standing, when you are sitting, and in all other situations."

وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِى السَّـجِدِينَ

(And your movements among those who fall prostrate.) Qatadah said:

الَّذِى يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِى السَّـجِدِينَ-

(Who sees you when you stand up. And your movements among those who fall prostrate.) "When you pray, He sees you when you pray alone and when you pray in congregation." This was also the view of \`Ikrimah, \`Ata' Al-Khurasani and Al-Hasan Al-Basri.

إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

(Verily, He, only He, is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.) He hears all that His servants say and He knows all their movements, as He says:

وَمَا تَكُونُ فِى شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُواْ مِنْهُ مِن قُرْءَانٍ وَلاَ تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلاَّ كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ

(Neither you do any deed nor recite any portion of the Qur'an, nor you do any deed, but We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it) (10:61).


ayah_text: And warn, O Muhammad, your closest kindred.

ayah_text_ar: وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ ٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ


ayah_text: And lower your wing to those who follow you of the believers.

ayah_text_ar: وَٱخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: And if they disobey you, then say, "Indeed, I am disassociated from what you are doing."

ayah_text_ar: فَإِنْ عَصَوْكَ فَقُلْ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ


ayah_text: And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,

ayah_text_ar: وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ


ayah_text: Who sees you when you arise

ayah_text_ar: ٱلَّذِى يَرَىٰكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ


ayah_text: And your movement among those who prostrate.

ayah_text_ar: وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِى ٱلسَّـٰجِدِينَ


ayah_text: Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

ayah_text_ar: إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ


ayah_text: Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?

ayah_text_ar: هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ

ayah_tafsir:
## Refutation of the Fabrications of the Idolators

Here Allah addresses those idolators who claimed that what was brought by the Messenger was not the truth but was merely something that he had made up by himself, or that it came to him in visions from the Jinn. Allah stated that His Messenger was above their claims and fabrications, and that what he had brought did indeed come from Allah, and that it was a revelation and inspiration, brought down by a noble, trustworthy and mighty angel. It did not come from the Shayatin, because they have no desire for anything like this Noble Qur'an -- they descend upon those who are like them, the lying fortune-tellers. Allah says:

هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ

(Shall I inform you) meaning, shall I tell you,

هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَى مَن تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَـطِينُ \- تَنَزَّلُ عَلَى كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ

(upon whom the Shayatin descend They descend on every lying, sinful person (Athim)) meaning, one whose speech is lies and fabrication.

أَثِيمٍ

(Athim) means, whose deeds are immoral. This is the person upon whom the Shayatin descend, fortune-tellers and other sinful liars. The Shayatin are also sinful liars.

يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ

(Who gives ear, ) means, they try to overhear what is said in the heavens, and they try to hear something of the Unseen, then they add to it a hundred lies and tell it to their human comrades, who then tell it to others. Then the people believe everything they say because they were right about the one thing which was heard from the heavens. This was stated in an authentic Hadith recorded by Al-Bukhari from \`A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said, "The people asked the Prophet about fortune-tellers, and he said:

«إِنَّهُمْ لَيْسُوا بِشَيْء»

(They are nothing.) They said: "O Messenger of Allah, they say things that come true." The Prophet said:

«تِلْكَ الْكَلِمَةُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ يَخْطَفُهَا الْجِنِّيُّ فَيُقَرْقِرُهَا فِي أُذُنِ وَلِيِّهِ كَقَرْقَرَةِ الدَّجَاجِ، فَيَخْلِطُونَ مَعَهَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ مِائَةِ كَذْبَة»

(That is a word of truth which the Jinn snatches, then he gabbles it like the clucking of a chicken into the ear of his friend, but he mixes it with more than one hundred lies.) Al-Bukhari also recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "The Prophet said:

«إِذَا قَضَى اللهُ الْأَمْرَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ضَرَبَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِأَجْنِحَتِهَا خُضْعَانًا لِقَوْلِهِ، كَأَنَّهَا سِلْسِلَةٌ عَلَى صَفْوَانٍ، فَإِذَا فُزِّعَ عَنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا: مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ؟ قَالُوا (لِلَّذِي قَالَ): الْحَقَّ، وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ، فَيَسْمَعُهَا مُسْتَرِقُو السَّمْعِ، وَمُسْتَرِقُو السَّمْعِ هَكَذَا بَعْضُهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ وَصَفَ سُفْيَانُ بِيَدِهِ، فَحَرَّفَهَا وَبَدَّدَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ فَيَسْمَعُ الْكَلِمَةَ فَيُلْقِيهَا إِلَى مَنْ تَحْتَهُ، ثُمَّ يُلْقِيهَا الْآخَرُ إِلَى مَنْ تَحْتَهُ، حَتَّى يُلْقِيَهَا عَلَى لِسَانِ السَّاحِرِ أَوِ الْكَاهِنِ، فَرُبَّمَا أَدْرَكَهُ الشِّهَابُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُلْقِيَهَا، وَرُبَّمَا أَلْقَاهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ، فَيَكْذِبُ مَعَهَا مِائَةَ كَذْبَةٍ،فَيُقَالُ: أَلَيْسَ قَدْ قَالَ لَنَا يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا: كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ فَيُصَدَّقُ بِتِلْكَ الْكَلِمَةِ الَّتِي سُمِعَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاء»

(When Allah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to His decree, a chain beating on a rock. And when the fear in their hearts subsides, they say: "What is it that your Lord has said" They say: "The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great." Then when the Jinn who are listening out, one above the other) -- and Sufyan illustrated this with a gesture, holding his hand vertically with his fingers outspread -- (when they hear this, they throw it down from one to another, until it is passed to the fortune-teller or soothsayer. The shooting star may strike the Jinn before he passes it on, or he may pass it on before he is struck, and he adds to it one hundred lies, thus it is said: "Did he not tell us that on such and such a day, such and such would happen" So they believe him because of that one thing which was heard from the heavens.) This was recorded by Al-Bukhari. Al-Bukhari recorded from \`A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet said:

«إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَحَدَّثُ فِي الْعَنَانِ وَالْعَنَانُ: الْغَمَامُ بِالْأَمْرِ (يَكُونُ) فِي الْأَرْضِ، فَتَسْمَعُ الشَّيَاطِينُ الْكَلِمَةَ، فَتَقُرُّهَا فِي أُذُنِ الْكَاهِنِ كَمَا تُقَرُّ الْقَارُورَةُ، فَيَزِيدُونَ مَعَهَا مِائَةَ كَذْبَة»

(The angels speak in the clouds about some matter on earth, and the Shayatin overhear what they say, so they tell it to the fortune-teller, gurgling into his ear like (a liquid poured) from a glass bottle, and he adds to it one hundred lies.)

## Refutation of the Claim that the Prophet was a Poet

وَالشُّعَرَآءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ

(As for the poets, the astray ones follow them.) \`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn \`Abbas that this means: "The disbelievers follow the misguided among mankind and the Jinn." This was also the view of Mujahid, \`Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and others. \`Ikrimah said, "Two poets would ridicule one another in verse, with one group of people supporting one and another group supporting the other. Hence Allah revealed the Ayah,

وَالشُّعَرَآءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ

(As for the poets, the erring ones follow them.)

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِى كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ

(See you not that they speak about every subject in their poetry) \`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn \`Abbas that this means: "They indulge in every kind of nonsense." Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn \`Abbas said, "They engage in every kind of verbal art." This was also the view of Mujahid and others.

وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لاَ يَفْعَلُونَ

(And that they say what they do not do. ) Al-\`Awfi reported that Ibn \`Abbas said that at the time of the Messenger of Allah , two men, one from among the Ansar and one from another tribe, were ridiculing one another in verse, and each one of them was supported by a group of his own people, who were the foolish ones, and Allah said:

وَالشُّعَرَآءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ \- أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِى كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ \- وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لاَ يَفْعَلُونَ

(As for the poets, the erring ones follow them. See you not that they speak about every subject in their poetry And that they say what they do not do.) What is meant here is that the Messenger , to whom this Qur'an was revealed, was not a soothsayer or a poet, because his situation was quite obviously different to theirs, as Allah says:

وَمَا عَلَّمْنَـهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنبَغِى لَهُ إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْءَانٌ مُّبِينٌ

(And We have not taught him poetry, nor is it suitable for him. This is only a Reminder and a plain Qur'an.) (36:69),

إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ \- وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَاعِرٍ قَلِيلاً مَّا تُؤْمِنُونَ \- وَلاَ بِقَوْلِ كَاهِنٍ قَلِيلاً مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ

(That this is verily, the word of an honored Messenger. It is not the word of a poet, little is that you believe! Nor is it the word of a soothsayer, little is that you remember! This is the Revelation sent down from the Lord of all that exits.) (69:40-43)

## The Exception of the Poets of Islam

إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ

(Except those who believe and do righteous deeds,) Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated from Yazid bin \`Abdullah bin Qusayt, that Abu Al-Hasan Salim Al-Barrad, the freed servant of Tamim Ad-Dari said: "When the Ayah --

وَالشُّعَرَآءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ

(As for the poets, the erring ones follow them.) was revealed, Hassan bin Thabit, \`Abdullah bin Rawahah and Ka\`b bin Malik came to the Messenger of Allah , weeping, and said: "Allah knew when He revealed this Ayah that we are poets. The Prophet recited to them the Ayah,

إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ

(Except those who believe and do righteous deeds,) and said:

«أَنْتُم»

((This means) you.)

وَذَكَرُواْ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً

(and remember Allah much). He said:

«أَنْتُم»

((This means) you.)

وَانتَصَرُواْ مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُواْ

(and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged. ) He said:

«أَنْتُم»

((This means) you.) This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir from the narration of Ibn Ishaq. But this Surah was revealed in Makkah, so how could the reason for its revelation be the poets of the Ansar This is something worth thinking about. The reports that have been narrated about this are all Mursal and cannot be relied on. And Allah knows best. But this exception could include the poets of the Ansar and others. It even includes those poets of the Jahiliyyah who indulged in condemning Islam and its followers, then repented and turned to Allah, and gave up what they used to do and started to do righteous deeds and remember Allah much, to make up for the bad things that they had previously said, for good deeds wipe out bad deeds. So they praised Islam and its followers in order to make up for their insults, as the poet \`Abdullah bin Az-Zab\`ari said when he became Muslim: "O Messenger of Allah, indeed my tongue will try to make up for things it said when I was bad -- When I went along with the Shaytan during the years of misguidance, and whoever inclines towards his way is in a state of loss." Similarly, Abu Sufyan bin Al-Harith bin \`Abd Al-Muttalib was one of the most hostile people towards the Prophet , even though he was his cousin, and he was the one who used to mock him the most. But when he became Muslim, there was no one more beloved to him than the Messenger of Allah . He began to praise the Messenger of Allah where he had mocked him, and take him as a close friend where he had regarded him as an enemy.

وَانتَصَرُواْ مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُواْ

(and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged.) Ibn \`Abbas said, "They responded in kind to the disbelievers who used to ridicule the believers in verse." This was also the view of Mujahid, Qatadah and several others. It was also recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said to Hassan:

«اهْجُهُم»

(Ridicule them in verse.) Or he said:

«َهاجِهِمْ وَجِبْرِيلُ مَعَك»

(Ridicule them in verse, and Jibril is with you.) Imam Ahmad recorded that Ka\`b bin Malik said to the Prophet , "Allah has revealed what He revealed about the poets. The Messenger of Allah said:

«إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يُجَاهِدُ بِسَيْفِهِ وَلِسَانِهِ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَكَأَنَّ مَا تَرْمُونَهُمْ بِهِ نَضْحُ النَّـبْل»

(The believer wages Jihad with his sword and with his tongue, By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, it is as if you are attacking them with arrows.)

وَسَيَعْلَمْ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ

(And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned.) This is like the Ayah,

يَوْمَ لاَ يَنفَعُ الظَّـلِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ

(The Day when their excuses will be of no profit to wrongdoers) (40: 52). According to the Sahih, the Messenger of Allah said:

«إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظُّلْمَ، فَإِنَّ الظُّلْمَ ظُلُمَاتٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة»

(Beware of wrongdoing, for wrongdoing will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection.) Qatadah bin Di\`amah said concerning the Ayah --

وَسَيَعْلَمْ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ

(And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned.) this refers to the poets and others. This is the end of the Tafsir Surat Ash-Shu\`ara'. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.


ayah_text: They descend upon every sinful liar.

ayah_text_ar: تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ


ayah_text: They pass on what is heard, and most of them are liars.

ayah_text_ar: يُلْقُونَ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَـٰذِبُونَ


ayah_text: And the poets - only the deviators follow them;

ayah_text_ar: وَٱلشُّعَرَآءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ ٱلْغَاوُۥنَ


ayah_text: Do you not see that in every valley they roam

ayah_text_ar: أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِى كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ


ayah_text: And that they say what they do not do? -

ayah_text_ar: وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ


ayah_text: Except those poets who believe and do righteous deeds and remember Allah often and defend the Muslims after they were wronged. And those who have wronged are going to know to what kind of return they will be returned.

ayah_text_ar: إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَذَكَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَٱنتَصَرُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ


ayah_text: Ta, Seen. These are the verses of the Qur'an and a clear Book

ayah_text_ar: طسٓ ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَكِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

ayah_tafsir:
## Which was revealed in Makkah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

## The Qur'an is Guidance and Glad Tidings for the Believers, a Warning to the Disbelievers, and it is from Allah

In (the comments on) Surat Al-Baqarah, we discussed the letters which appear at the beginning of some Surahs.

تِلْكَ ءَايَـتُ الْقُرْءَانِ وَكِتَـبٍ مُّبِينٍ

(These are the Ayat of the Qur'an, and (it is) a Book (that is) clear.) It is plain and evident.

هُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(A guide and glad tidings for the believers.) meaning, guidance and good news may be attained from the Qur'an for those who believe in it, follow it and put it into practice. They establish obligatory prayers, pay Zakah and believe with certain faith in the Hereafter, the resurrection after death, reward and punishment for all deeds, good and bad, and Paradise and Hell. This is like the Ayat:

قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هُدًى وَشِفَآءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ فِى ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ

(Say: "It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears...") (41:44).

لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنْذِرَ بِهِ قَوْماً لُّدّاً

(that you may give glad tidings to those who have Taqwa, and warn with it the Ludd (most quarrelsome) people) (19: 97). Allah says here:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ

(Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter,) meaning, those who deny it and think that it will never happen,

زَيَّنَّا لَهُمْ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ فَهُمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

(We have made their deeds fair seeming to them, so that they wander about blindly.) means, \`We have made what they are doing seem good to them, and We have left them to continue in their misguidance, so they are lost and confused.' This is their recompense for their disbelief in the Hereafter, as Allah says:

وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْئِدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَـرَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ

(And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away, as they refused to believe therein for the first time) (6:110).

أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ

(They are those for whom there will be an evil torment.) in this world and the Hereafter.

وَهُمْ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ هُمُ الاٌّخْسَرُونَ

(And in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers.) means, no one but they, among all the people who will be gathered, will lose their souls and their wealth.

وَإِنَّكَ لَتُلَقَّى الْقُرْءَانَ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ

(And verily, you are being taught the Qur'an from One, All-Wise, All-Knowing.)

وَأَنَّكَ

(And verily, you) O Muhammad. Qatadah said:

لَتُلَقَّى

(are being taught) "Are receiving."

الْقُرْءَانَ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ

(the Qur'an from One, All-Wise, All-Knowing.) from One Who is Wise in His commands and prohibitions, and Who knows all things, major and minor. Whatever He says is absolute Truth, and His rulings are entirely fair and just, as Allah says:

وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً

(And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice) (6:115).

surah_name_english: An-Naml

surah_name_arab: النمل

surah_meaning: The Ant


ayah_text: As guidance and good tidings for the believers

ayah_text_ar: هُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ


ayah_text: Who establish prayer and give zakah, and of the Hereafter they are certain in faith.

ayah_text_ar: ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ


ayah_text: Indeed, for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made pleasing to them their deeds, so they wander blindly.

ayah_text_ar: إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ زَيَّنَّا لَهُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَهُمْ يَعْمَهُونَ


ayah_text: Those are the ones for whom there will be the worst of punishment, and in the Hereafter they are the greatest losers.

ayah_text_ar: أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمُ ٱلْأَخْسَرُونَ


ayah_text: And indeed, O Muhammad, you receive the Qur'an from one Wise and Knowing.

ayah_text_ar: وَإِنَّكَ لَتُلَقَّى ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ


ayah_text: Mention when Moses said to his family, "Indeed, I have perceived a fire. I will bring you from there information or will bring you a burning torch that you may warm yourselves."

ayah_text_ar: إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِۦٓ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا سَـَٔاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ ءَاتِيكُم بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ

ayah_tafsir:
## The Story of Musa and the End of Fir\`awn

Here Allah tells His Messenger Muhammad about what happened to Musa, peace be upon him, how Allah chose him, spoke with him and gave him mighty, dazzling signs and overwhelming proof, and sent him to Fir\`awn and his people, but they denied the proof, disbelieved in him and arrogantly refused to follow him. Allah says:

إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لاًّهْلِهِ

(when Musa said to his household), meaning, remember when Musa was traveling with his family and lost his way. This was at night, in the dark. Musa had seen a fire beside the mountain, i.e., he had noticed a fire burning brightly, and said,

لاًّهْلِهِ إِنِّى آنَسْتُ نَاراً سَـَاتِيكُمْ مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ

(to his household: "Verily, I have seen a fire; I will bring you from there some information...") meaning, \`about the way we should take.'

أَوْ ءَاتِيكُمْ بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ

(or I will bring you a burning ember, that you may warm yourselves.) meaning, so that they could keep warm. And it was as he said: "He came back with great news, and a great light." Allah says:

فَلَمَّا جَآءَهَا نُودِىَ أَن بُورِكَ مَن فِى النَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا

(But when he came to it, he was called: "Blessed is whosoever is in the fire, and whosoever is round about it!") meaning, when he came to it, he saw a great and terrifying sight: the fire was burning in a green bush, and the fire was burning ever brighter while the bush was growing ever more green and beautiful. Then he raised his head, and saw that its light was connected to the clouds of the sky. Ibn \`Abbas and others said, "It was not a fire, rather it was shining light." According to one report narrated from Ibn \`Abbas, it was the Light of the Lord of the worlds. Musa stood amazed by what he was seeing, and

نُودِىَ أَن بُورِكَ مَن فِى النَّارِ

(he was called: "Blessed is whosoever is in the fire...") Ibn \`Abbas said, "This means, Holy is (whosoever is in the fire)."

وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا

(and whosoever is round about it) means, of the angels. This was the view of Ibn \`Abbas, \`Ikrimah, Sa\`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan and Qatadah.

وَسُبْحَـنَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ

(And glorified be Allah, the Lord of all that exists), Who does whatever He wills and there is nothing like Him among His creation. Nothing He has made can encompass Him, and He is the Exalted, the Almighty, Who is utterly unlike all that He has created. Heaven and earth cannot contain Him, but He is the One, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who is far above any comparison with His creation.

يمُوسَى إِنَّهُ أَنَا اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

(O Musa! Verily, it is I, Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.) Allah told him that the One Who was addressing him was his Lord Allah, the All-Mighty, Who has subjugated and subdued all things, the One Who is Wise in all His words and deeds. Then He commanded him to throw down the stick that was in his hand, so that He might show him clear proof that He is the One Who is able to do all things, whatever He wills. When Musa threw that stick down, it changed into the form of a huge and terrifying snake, moving quickly despite its size. Allah says:

فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّ

(But when he saw it moving as if it were a Jann (snake).) Jann refers to a type of snake that is the fastest-moving and most agile. When Musa saw that with his own eyes,

وَلَّى مُدْبِراً وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ

(he turned in flight, and did not look back.) meaning, he did not turn around, because he was so afraid. Allah's saying:

يمُوسَى لاَ تَخَفْ إِنِّى لاَ يَخَافُ لَدَىَّ الْمُرْسَلُونَ

(O Musa! Fear not: verily, the Messengers fear not in front of Me.) means, \`do not be afraid of what you see, for I want to choose you as a Messenger and make you a great Prophet.'

إَلاَّ مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْناً بَعْدَ سُوءٍ فَإِنِّى غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(Except him who has done wrong and afterwards has changed evil for good; then surely, I am Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) This is an exception of the exclusionary type. This is good news for mankind, for whoever does an evil deed then gives it up and repents and turns to Allah, Allah will accept his repentance, as He says:

وَإِنِّى لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحَاً ثُمَّ اهْتَدَى

(And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes and does righteous good deeds, and then Ahtada.) (20:82)

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءاً أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ

(And whoever does evil or wrongs himself...) (4:110). And there are many other Ayat which say the same.

وَأَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فِى جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ

(And put your hand into the opening of your garment, it will come forth white without hurt.) This is another sign, further brilliant proof of the ability of Allah to do whatever He wills. It is also confirmation of the truth of the one to whom the miracle was given. Allah commanded him to put his hand into the opening of his garment, and when he put his hand in and took it out again, it came out white and shining as if it were a piece of the moon or a flash of dazzling lightning.

فِى تِسْعِ ءَايَـتٍ

(among the nine signs) means, \`these are two of the nine signs which you will be supported with and which will serve as proof for you. '

إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ قَوْماً فَـسِقِينَ

(to Fir\`awn and his people. Verily, they are a people who are rebellious.) These were the nine signs of which Allah said:

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى تِسْعَ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ

(And indeed We gave Musa nine clear signs) (17:101) -- as we have stated there.

فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَـتُنَا مُبْصِرَةً

(But when Our Ayat came to them, clear to see,), i.e., clear and obvious,

قَالُواْ هَـذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

(they said: "This is a manifest magic".) They wanted to oppose it with their own magic, but they were defeated and were returned disgraced.

وَجَحَدُواْ بِهَا

(And they belied them) means, verbally,

وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ

(though they themselves were convinced thereof.) means, they knew deep down that this was truth from Allah, but they denied it and were stubborn and arrogant.

ظُلْماً وَعُلُوّاً

(wrongfully and arrogantly) means, wronging themselves because this was the despicable manner to which they were accustomed, and they were arrogant because they were too proud to follow the truth. Allah said:

فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

(So, see what was the end of the mischief-makers.) meaning, \`see, O Muhammad, what were the consequences of their actions when Allah destroyed them and drowned every last one of them in a single morning.' The point of this story is: beware, \`O you who disbelieve in Muhammad and deny the Message that he has brought from his Lord, lest the same thing that befell them befall you also.' But what is worse, is that Muhammad is nobler and greater than Musa, and his proof is stronger than that of Musa, for the signs that Allah has given him are combined with his presence and his character, in addition to the fact that previous Prophets foretold his coming and took a covenant from the people that they would follow him if they should see him, may the best of blessings and peace from his Lord be upon him.


ayah_text: But when he came to it, he was called, "Blessed is whoever is at the fire and whoever is around it. And exalted is Allah, Lord of the worlds.

ayah_text_ar: فَلَمَّا جَآءَهَا نُودِىَ أَنۢ بُورِكَ مَن فِى ٱلنَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ


ayah_text: O Moses, indeed it is I - Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

ayah_text_ar: يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ


ayah_text: And he was told, "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it were a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. Allah said, "O Moses, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear.

ayah_text_ar: وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّى لَا يَخَافُ لَدَىَّ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ


ayah_text: Otherwise, he who wrongs, then substitutes good after evil - indeed, I am Forgiving and Merciful.

ayah_text_ar: إِلَّا مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًۢا بَعْدَ سُوٓءٍ فَإِنِّى غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ


ayah_text: And put your hand into the opening of your garment at the breast; it will come out white without disease. These are among the nine signs you will take to Pharaoh and his people. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient."

ayah_text_ar: وَأَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فِى جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوٓءٍ ۖ فِى تِسْعِ ءَايَـٰتٍ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَوْمِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ


ayah_text: But when there came to them Our visible signs, they said, "This is obvious magic."

ayah_text_ar: فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا مُبْصِرَةً قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ


ayah_text: And they rejected them, while their inner selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So see how was the end of the corrupters.

ayah_text_ar: وَجَحَدُوا۟ بِهَا وَٱسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا ۚ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ