وَأَخَذَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دِيَٰرِهِمْ جَٰثِمِينَ
7:79; 26:159; 54:32.
Important Words:
الصیحة (punishment) is derived from صاح which means, he called out or cried vehemently or he shouted with his utmost force or power. صاح علیه means, he rebuked him. صیح بھم means, they were frightened or terrified. صیح فیھم means, they perished. صاحت الشجرة means, the tree became tall. صیحة means, a loud cry; punishment, castigation or chastisement; a hostile or predatory incursion by which a tribe is surprised (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
Seven different words and expressions have been used in the Quran to describe the punishment which overtook the tribe of Thamud. In the verse under comment and in 54:32, the word used is صیحة (punishment); in 7:79, رجفة (an earthquake); in 26:159, عذاب (chastisement); in 27:52, دمرناھم (We utterly destroyed them); in 51:45, صاعقة (thunderbolt; any destructive punishment); in 69:6,طاغیة (an extraordinary punishment); and in 91:15, دمدم علیھم (their Lord destroyed them completely). Though the words and expressions employed to describe the visitation seem to be different in form, yet they possess no discrepancy in meaning. The only words which appear to be contradictory are Rajfah, Saihah, Sa‘iqah and Taghiyah. As, however, the last three also mean punishment, therefore if the tribe of Thamud were destroyed by means of an earthquake, all the above words may be rightly used to describe that catastrophe.
7:79; 26:159; 54:32.
Seven different words and expressions have been used in the Qur’an to describe the punishment which overtook the tribe of Thamud. In the present verse and in 54:32, the word used is Saihah (punishment); in 7:79, Rajfah (an earthquake); in 26:159 simply ‘Adhab (chastisement); in 27:52, Dammarna- hum (We utterly destroyed them); in 51:45, Sa‘iqah (thunderbolt; or any destructive punishment); in 69:6, Taghiyah (an extraordinary punishment); and in 91:15, Damdama ‘Alaihim (He destroyed them completely). Though the words and expressions employed to describe the visitation seem to be different in form, yet they possess no discrepancy in meaning. The words which, however, appear to be contradictory, are Rajfah, Saihah, Sa‘iqah and Taghiyah. As the last three also mean punishment, therefore if the tribe of Thamud were destroyed by means of an earthquake all the above words may be rightly used to describe that catastrophe.