فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ غُثَآءً ۚ فَبُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
7:92; 11:68.
Important Words:
الصیحة (punishment) means, a loud cry; punishment, castigation, chastisement; a hostile or predatory incursion by which a tribe is surprised (Lane & Aqrab). See also 11:68.
غثاء (rubbish) is derived from غثاء (ghatha). They say غثا الوادی i.e. the valley has in it abundance of rubbish. غثت النفس i.e. the stomach heaved, or became agitated with a tendency to vomit. غثاء means, the rubbish or particles of things or refuse and scum and rotten leaves with the scum borne upon the surface of a torrent. The Arabs say ماله غثاء و عمله ھباء و سعیه خفاء i.e. his property is as rubbish borne by a torrent and his work is like motes that are seen in the rays of the sun and his labour is a thing that is unapparent. غثاء الناس means, the low and the vile and the refuse of mankind (Lane & Aqrab).
بعداً means, perdition or death; curse or malediction etc. The expression بعداله means, may he be cursed or may God alienate him from good (Lane & Aqrab). See also 11:45.
Commentary:
The verse points to a lesson to which history of religion generally and the Quran particularly draws attention, viz. that the opponents of God’s Prophets always meet with failure and destruction and believers whom they regard as the scum and dregs of humanity succeed in their mission and ultimately become the teachers and leaders of nations.
7:92; 11:68.
Ghutha’ means, the rubbish or particles of things or refuse and scum and rotten leaves with the scum borne upon the surface of a torrent. Ghutha’ un-Nas means, the low and the vile and the refuse of mankind (Lane).
Bu‘d means, perdition or death; curse or malediction, etc. (Lane).