وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَآ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِٱلسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
17:102.
Important Words:
سنین (drought) is the plural of سنة which is derived, according to different authorities, either from سنه or سنی or سنو. They say سنه الطعام i.e. the food became bad or foul or became altered (for the worse) by the lapse of years. سناالسحاب الارض means, the cloud watered the earth. سناالبعیر means, the camel turned round about the well to draw water. سنی الرجل means, the man became high and exalted in rank. سنة means, a year; a single revolution of the sun, i.e. a single revolution of the earth round the sun; a solar year; hence it is generally considered longer than عام which is mostly applied to a lunar year; a year of drought or famine; drought or barrenness or intense drought (Lane & Aqrab). See also 2:260.
Commentary:
This verse speaks of two kinds of punishment which overtook Pharaoh’s people––loss of property and loss of life, the word ثمرات (fruits) meaning both fruits and children or offspring. The details of these punishments follow in 7:134.
17:102.
Sanah which is the singular of Sinin signifies a simple revolution of the earth round the sun. It is synonymous with ‘Am (and also with Haul) but whereas every Sanah is an ‘Am, every ‘Am is not a Sanah. It is also said to be longer than the ‘Am which is applied to the twelve Arabian months collectively; but Sanah is also applied to twelve revolutions of the moon. According to Imam Raghib Sanah is used as denoting a year in which there is difficulty, or drought or barrenness or dearth; and ‘Am as denoting a year which brings ampleness of the means or circumstances of life and abundance of herbage or the like. Sanah also means drought. The verse speaks of loss of life and property.