Topic: Sign Of She-Camel
View Aspects
وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَٰلِحًا ۗ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
7:78; 11:65; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
11:62; 27:46.
洒姆德部族生活在阿拉伯的西部, 从亚丁向北延展到叙利亚。他们生活在伊司马仪时代以前没有多少时候。他们的领土和阿德部族的领土接界, 但他们大部分住在山里。
先知撒利在呼德之后, 大概和伊布拉欣是同时代人。
在那些地区, 骆驼是主要的运输工具。先知撒利过去就是骑着他的母驼经常旅行到各处去传道的。在他的母驼自由走动的道路上放置障碍或伤害它, 等于是妨碍安拉托付撒利所进行的工作。这只母驼没有什么出奇之处, 是一只普普通通的骆驼。但它附有神圣的意义是, 安拉宣布它是一种迹象和先知撒利这个人的神圣不可侵犯的标志。因此, 伤害它等于伤害撒利本人以及损害他的工作。
7:78; 11:65; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
11:62; 27:46.
The camel formed the chief means of conveyance in those parts and it was on his she-camel that the Prophet Salih used to travel from place to place to preach his Message. Placing obstruction in the way of the free movements of the she-camel or doing it harm was tantamount to obstructing the work with which God had entrusted Salih. There was nothing unusual about the she-camel itself. It was an ordinary animal. The sanctity that attached to it was that God had declared it to be a Sign and a symbol of the sanctity and inviolability of the person of the Prophet Salih, and so doing an injury to it was tantamount to doing an injury to Salih himself and to hampering his work.
The words do not mean that she was to be allowed to graze in any field she entered. The meaning is that no obstruction was to be put in her way and that she was to be permitted to proceed to any place to which Salih might choose to go. The declaration by Salih about the free movements of his she- camel was in harmony with a time-honoured Arab custom.
The Thamud tribe lived in the western parts of Arabia, having spread from Aden northward to Syria. They lived shortly before the time of Ishmael. Their territory was adjacent to that of ‘Ad, but they lived mostly in the hills.
The Prophet Salih lived after Hud and was probably a contemporary of Abraham.
11:62; 27:46.
7:78; 11:65; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
Important Words:
ثمود (Thamud) was the name of a tribe that lived after ‘Ad. The name may have been derived from the Arabic root ثمد. They say ثمدہ i.e. he dug out a hole in the earth so that water might collect in it (Aqrab). The tribe Thamud lived in the western part of Arabia, having spread from Aden northward to Syria. They lived shortly before the time of Ishmael. Their territory was adjacent to that of ‘Ad, but they lived mostly in the hills. For a fuller note on the subject see 11:62.
صالح (Salih) is an Arabic word being derived from صلح i.e. he was or became good or righteous. صالح means, a righteous person. See 2:12, 161. The Prophet Salih lived after Hud and was probably a contemporary of Abraham.
Commentary:
The camel formed the chief means of conveyance in Arabia, and it was on his she-camel that the Prophet Salih used to travel from place to place to preach his message. So he told his people that placing obstruction in the way of the free movements of the she-camel or doing harm to it would be tantamount to obstructing the work with which God had entrusted him, and that if they did not stand out of her way, God’s punishment would surely descend upon them. Thus it was that the she-camel was meant as a sign for the tribe of Thamud. There was nothing unusual about the camel itself. It was an ordinary animal. The sanctity that attached to it was that God had declared it to be a sign and a symbol of the sanctity and inviolability of the person of the Prophet Salih and doing an injury to it was declared to be tantamount to doing an injury to Salih himself and to hampering his work.
The words, leave her that she may feed in Allah’s earth, do not mean that she was to be allowed to graze in any field she pleased. What is meant is only that no obstruction was to be put in her way, and that she was to be permitted to proceed to any place to which Salih might choose to go. The declaration by Salih about the free movement of his she-camel was also in harmony with a time-honoured Arab custom.
a
7:78; 11:65; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
e
11:62; 27:46.
505
洒姆德部族生活在阿拉伯的西部, 从亚丁向北延展到叙利亚。他们生活在伊司马仪时代以前没有多少时候。他们的领土和阿德部族的领土接界, 但他们大部分住在山里。
506
先知撒利在呼德之后, 大概和伊布拉欣是同时代人。
507
在那些地区, 骆驼是主要的运输工具。先知撒利过去就是骑着他的母驼经常旅行到各处去传道的。在他的母驼自由走动的道路上放置障碍或伤害它, 等于是妨碍安拉托付撒利所进行的工作。这只母驼没有什么出奇之处, 是一只普普通通的骆驼。但它附有神圣的意义是, 安拉宣布它是一种迹象和先知撒利这个人的神圣不可侵犯的标志。因此, 伤害它等于伤害撒利本人以及损害他的工作。
a
11:62; 27:46.
b
7:78; 11:65; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
972
Important Words:
ثمود (Thamud) was the name of a tribe that lived after ‘Ad. The name may have been derived from the Arabic root ثمد. They say ثمدہ i.e. he dug out a hole in the earth so that water might collect in it (Aqrab). The tribe Thamud lived in the western part of Arabia, having spread from Aden northward to Syria. They lived shortly before the time of Ishmael. Their territory was adjacent to that of ‘Ad, but they lived mostly in the hills. For a fuller note on the subject see 11:62.
صالح (Salih) is an Arabic word being derived from صلح i.e. he was or became good or righteous. صالح means, a righteous person. See 2:12, 161. The Prophet Salih lived after Hud and was probably a contemporary of Abraham.
Commentary:
The camel formed the chief means of conveyance in Arabia, and it was on his she-camel that the Prophet Salih used to travel from place to place to preach his message. So he told his people that placing obstruction in the way of the free movements of the she-camel or doing harm to it would be tantamount to obstructing the work with which God had entrusted him, and that if they did not stand out of her way, God’s punishment would surely descend upon them. Thus it was that the she-camel was meant as a sign for the tribe of Thamud. There was nothing unusual about the camel itself. It was an ordinary animal. The sanctity that attached to it was that God had declared it to be a sign and a symbol of the sanctity and inviolability of the person of the Prophet Salih and doing an injury to it was declared to be tantamount to doing an injury to Salih himself and to hampering his work.
The words, leave her that she may feed in Allah’s earth, do not mean that she was to be allowed to graze in any field she pleased. What is meant is only that no obstruction was to be put in her way, and that she was to be permitted to proceed to any place to which Salih might choose to go. The declaration by Salih about the free movement of his she-camel was also in harmony with a time-honoured Arab custom.
a
7:78; 11:65; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
e
11:62; 27:46.
1000
The camel formed the chief means of conveyance in those parts and it was on his she-camel that the Prophet Salih used to travel from place to place to preach his Message. Placing obstruction in the way of the free movements of the she-camel or doing it harm was tantamount to obstructing the work with which God had entrusted Salih. There was nothing unusual about the she-camel itself. It was an ordinary animal. The sanctity that attached to it was that God had declared it to be a Sign and a symbol of the sanctity and inviolability of the person of the Prophet Salih, and so doing an injury to it was tantamount to doing an injury to Salih himself and to hampering his work.
1001
The words do not mean that she was to be allowed to graze in any field she entered. The meaning is that no obstruction was to be put in her way and that she was to be permitted to proceed to any place to which Salih might choose to go. The declaration by Salih about the free movements of his she- camel was in harmony with a time-honoured Arab custom.
998
The Thamud tribe lived in the western parts of Arabia, having spread from Aden northward to Syria. They lived shortly before the time of Ishmael. Their territory was adjacent to that of ‘Ad, but they lived mostly in the hills.
999
The Prophet Salih lived after Hud and was probably a contemporary of Abraham.
فَعَقَرُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰصَٰلِحُ ٱئْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
7:74.
اصل بات یہ ہے کہ اونٹنی سے ان لوگوں کو کوئی بغض نہ تھا۔ نہ اونٹنی کا مارنا کوئی اتنا گناہ ہے۔ صالحؑ اس اونٹنی پر چڑھ کر ملک میں تبلیغ کرتے تھے۔ انہوں نے اونٹنی کو اس لئے مارا کہ صالحؑ کی تبلیغ ختم ہو جائے اور لوگوں میں وہ بدنام ہو جائے۔ اس وجہ سے ان پر عذاب آیا۔
See 7:74.
See 7:74.
Important Words:
عقروا (hamstrung) is derived from عقر. They say عقره i.e. he wounded him, or he wounded him much; he hacked or hamstrung it (a beast); he struck or cut its (an animal’s) leg with a sword, etc.; he stabbed an animal, etc.; he killed, slew or destroyed. عقربی means, he detained or restrained me. عقر and عقرت mean, he or she was barren and produced no issue (Lane).
Commentary:
The reference in the pronoun "that" in the clause, bring us that, is to the punishment mentioned in 7:74 above. The she-camel was held out as a sign, and that sign was to be witnessed on her being obstructed by disbelievers. They not only hindered the free movement of the she-camel but even wounded and killed her which amounted to an open challenge to Salih to do his worst,—to call upon his God to send down the threatened punishment upon them.
d
7:74.
1
اصل بات یہ ہے کہ اونٹنی سے ان لوگوں کو کوئی بغض نہ تھا۔ نہ اونٹنی کا مارنا کوئی اتنا گناہ ہے۔ صالحؑ اس اونٹنی پر چڑھ کر ملک میں تبلیغ کرتے تھے۔ انہوں نے اونٹنی کو اس لئے مارا کہ صالحؑ کی تبلیغ ختم ہو جائے اور لوگوں میں وہ بدنام ہو جائے۔ اس وجہ سے ان پر عذاب آیا۔
a
See 7:74.
976
Important Words:
عقروا (hamstrung) is derived from عقر. They say عقره i.e. he wounded him, or he wounded him much; he hacked or hamstrung it (a beast); he struck or cut its (an animal’s) leg with a sword, etc.; he stabbed an animal, etc.; he killed, slew or destroyed. عقربی means, he detained or restrained me. عقر and عقرت mean, he or she was barren and produced no issue (Lane).
Commentary:
The reference in the pronoun "that" in the clause, bring us that, is to the punishment mentioned in 7:74 above. The she-camel was held out as a sign, and that sign was to be witnessed on her being obstructed by disbelievers. They not only hindered the free movement of the she-camel but even wounded and killed her which amounted to an open challenge to Salih to do his worst,—to call upon his God to send down the threatened punishment upon them.
a
See 7:74.
وَيَٰقَوْمِ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ
7:74; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
یعنی چونکہ حضرت صالحؑؑ علیہ السلام اسی اونٹنی پر سفر کرکے تبلیغ کرتے تھے اللہ تعالیٰ نے اسی کو ان کی قوم کے لئے نشان بنا دیا اور فرمایا کہ اس کو ہلاک کرنے کے یہ معنے ہوں گے کہ تم صالح ؑ کو تبلیغ سے روکتے ہو۔ جس فعل پر عذاب آنا مقدر ہے۔
7:74; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
7:74; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
Commentary:
Many legends have been woven round this ناقة (she-camel) of Salih. There is nothing in the Quran to lend support to these fanciful stories. One of these legends, for instance, is that she was miraculously born out of a rock in answer to a prayer of Salih when his people demanded from him a miracle and that she became pregnant at the time of her coming out of the rock, giving birth to a young one immediately after. The Quran, however, nowhere states that there was anything miraculous about her birth. On the contrary, it is clear from 26:154 & 159 that the birth of the she-camel was nothing out of the ordinary and that it was not her birth but the freedom of her movements that was held out as a sign. If the birth of the she-camel had been in any way miraculous, Salih, on the demand of his people for a sign, would have certainly referred them to that extraordinary happening. But, instead, he simply answered that the promised sign would be shown to them, if they interfered with her freedom.
There can be three answers to the question, in what sense was the she-camel a sign:
1. It was a custom in Arabia, as in some other countries as well, that a chief or king would let loose an animal as an emblem of his power and authority and would proclaim that any molestation with its free movements would be severely punished. In accordance with this ancient custom, Salih proclaimed, saying: "This she-camel is for you a sign. If you molest it, you will be held as defying the authority of God and will consequently be visited with Divine punishment."
2. Interference with a beast may mean interference with its rider. To prevent an animal from proceeding on its way amounts to preventing its rider from proceeding on his errand. So when Salih said, let her alone that she may feed in Allah’s earth, he meant that he himself should not be hindered from going about in Allah’s earth for the discharge of his duty of preaching his mission. Salih wanted to go about in the land preaching the word of God, but his people would not allow him to do so. So he told them that the she-camel on which he would go on the mission of preaching the Message of God must be allowed free movement and any interference with her would be regarded as defying God’s purpose and would be met with heavenly punishment.
3. Salih had learned to his sorrow that mixing with his people generally led to disturbance. So in order to avoid contact with them he decided to withhold his animals from the common pasture-lands and selected for himself another grazing ground, which did not belong to these people. Similarly, he abandoned the usual time when his people watered their animals and fixed another time for his own she-camel to drink. After having taken all possible precautions to avoid occasions for disturbance at great personal inconvenience, he told his people that if, even in spite of these precautions, there was any disturbance it would certainly be held as a sacrilegious act on their part which would bring down upon them Divine punishment. This interpretation is supported by the fact that old historical records contain references to a valley named فج الناقة (the valley of the she-camel) which is also mentioned in a book of geography written in 150 B.C. Old Greek historians give its name as Badanata which seems to be a corruption of (Fajjun-Naqqa). The name of this valley indicates that Salih fixed a valley for his she-camel to graze in, separate from the one used by his people, so that she might not mix with their herds and thus disturbance might be avoided.
It might be asked, why should a Prophet of God have behaved like worldly kings and potentates and let loose animals to go and graze where they chose. The present verse embodies an indirect answer to this question, for it is nowhere mentioned in the verse that Salih’s she-camel was to graze in other people’s fields. The verse only says, let her alone that she may feed in Allah’s earth, which obviously refers to land which was not the private property of any individual. So it was no private land in which, Salih’s she-camel was to graze but God’s waste, watered with rain from heaven and indebted to no human labour for its cultivation.
It may further be asked why a whole nation was destroyed for killing a mere she-camel. This objection is also based on a clear misconception, for the cause of Divine punishment was not the killing of the she-camel as such but the fact that the killing of the beast constituted an open challenge to threatening his life and declaring that his people were out to defy God’s authority. So it was not the killing of the she-camel, but the threat to Salih’s own life and the obstruction to his moving about freely in the land with a view to preaching God’s word that brought punishment on his people. See also 7:78.
b
7:74; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
1
یعنی چونکہ حضرت صالحؑؑ علیہ السلام اسی اونٹنی پر سفر کرکے تبلیغ کرتے تھے اللہ تعالیٰ نے اسی کو ان کی قوم کے لئے نشان بنا دیا اور فرمایا کہ اس کو ہلاک کرنے کے یہ معنے ہوں گے کہ تم صالح ؑ کو تبلیغ سے روکتے ہو۔ جس فعل پر عذاب آنا مقدر ہے۔
b
7:74; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
1445
Commentary:
Many legends have been woven round this ناقة (she-camel) of Salih. There is nothing in the Quran to lend support to these fanciful stories. One of these legends, for instance, is that she was miraculously born out of a rock in answer to a prayer of Salih when his people demanded from him a miracle and that she became pregnant at the time of her coming out of the rock, giving birth to a young one immediately after. The Quran, however, nowhere states that there was anything miraculous about her birth. On the contrary, it is clear from 26:154 & 159 that the birth of the she-camel was nothing out of the ordinary and that it was not her birth but the freedom of her movements that was held out as a sign. If the birth of the she-camel had been in any way miraculous, Salih, on the demand of his people for a sign, would have certainly referred them to that extraordinary happening. But, instead, he simply answered that the promised sign would be shown to them, if they interfered with her freedom.
There can be three answers to the question, in what sense was the she-camel a sign:
1. It was a custom in Arabia, as in some other countries as well, that a chief or king would let loose an animal as an emblem of his power and authority and would proclaim that any molestation with its free movements would be severely punished. In accordance with this ancient custom, Salih proclaimed, saying: "This she-camel is for you a sign. If you molest it, you will be held as defying the authority of God and will consequently be visited with Divine punishment."
2. Interference with a beast may mean interference with its rider. To prevent an animal from proceeding on its way amounts to preventing its rider from proceeding on his errand. So when Salih said, let her alone that she may feed in Allah’s earth, he meant that he himself should not be hindered from going about in Allah’s earth for the discharge of his duty of preaching his mission. Salih wanted to go about in the land preaching the word of God, but his people would not allow him to do so. So he told them that the she-camel on which he would go on the mission of preaching the Message of God must be allowed free movement and any interference with her would be regarded as defying God’s purpose and would be met with heavenly punishment.
3. Salih had learned to his sorrow that mixing with his people generally led to disturbance. So in order to avoid contact with them he decided to withhold his animals from the common pasture-lands and selected for himself another grazing ground, which did not belong to these people. Similarly, he abandoned the usual time when his people watered their animals and fixed another time for his own she-camel to drink. After having taken all possible precautions to avoid occasions for disturbance at great personal inconvenience, he told his people that if, even in spite of these precautions, there was any disturbance it would certainly be held as a sacrilegious act on their part which would bring down upon them Divine punishment. This interpretation is supported by the fact that old historical records contain references to a valley named فج الناقة (the valley of the she-camel) which is also mentioned in a book of geography written in 150 B.C. Old Greek historians give its name as Badanata which seems to be a corruption of (Fajjun-Naqqa). The name of this valley indicates that Salih fixed a valley for his she-camel to graze in, separate from the one used by his people, so that she might not mix with their herds and thus disturbance might be avoided.
It might be asked, why should a Prophet of God have behaved like worldly kings and potentates and let loose animals to go and graze where they chose. The present verse embodies an indirect answer to this question, for it is nowhere mentioned in the verse that Salih’s she-camel was to graze in other people’s fields. The verse only says, let her alone that she may feed in Allah’s earth, which obviously refers to land which was not the private property of any individual. So it was no private land in which, Salih’s she-camel was to graze but God’s waste, watered with rain from heaven and indebted to no human labour for its cultivation.
It may further be asked why a whole nation was destroyed for killing a mere she-camel. This objection is also based on a clear misconception, for the cause of Divine punishment was not the killing of the she-camel as such but the fact that the killing of the beast constituted an open challenge to threatening his life and declaring that his people were out to defy God’s authority. So it was not the killing of the she-camel, but the threat to Salih’s own life and the obstruction to his moving about freely in the land with a view to preaching God’s word that brought punishment on his people. See also 7:78.
a
7:74; 17:60; 26:156; 54:28; 91:14.
فَعَقَرُوهَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فِى دَارِكُمْ ثَلَٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍ
7:78; 26:158; 54:30; 91:15.
7:78; 26:158; 54:30; 91:15.
Important Words:
فعقروھا (But they hamstrung her). See 7:78.
تـمتـعـوا (Enjoy yourselves) may also mean, benefit by the provision Allah has made for men in this world. See also 2:37 & 4:25.
مكذوب (a lie) is derived from كذب meaning, inter alia, he lied or he uttered a falsehood; he said what was untrue, whether intentionally or unintentionally; he found his hopes false or vain. مکذوب is synonymous with کذب (kazibun) and means a lie or a falsehood; an untruth, etc. مکذوب also means, one to whom a lie or falsehood or untruth is told. قول مکذوب (originally مکذوب فیه) means, a false saying; a lie (Lane).
Commentary:
All the precautions which Salih took proved futile. His persecutors assaulted and killed his she-camel and thus challenged and insulted the proclamation of God, consequently bringing on themselves the threatened punishment.
The respite of three days was probably meant as a last chance for repentance of which the unlucky people, however, did not avail themselves.
a
7:78; 26:158; 54:30; 91:15.
a
7:78; 26:158; 54:30; 91:15.
1446
Important Words:
فعقروھا (But they hamstrung her). See 7:78.
تـمتـعـوا (Enjoy yourselves) may also mean, benefit by the provision Allah has made for men in this world. See also 2:37 & 4:25.
مكذوب (a lie) is derived from كذب meaning, inter alia, he lied or he uttered a falsehood; he said what was untrue, whether intentionally or unintentionally; he found his hopes false or vain. مکذوب is synonymous with کذب (kazibun) and means a lie or a falsehood; an untruth, etc. مکذوب also means, one to whom a lie or falsehood or untruth is told. قول مکذوب (originally مکذوب فیه) means, a false saying; a lie (Lane).
Commentary:
All the precautions which Salih took proved futile. His persecutors assaulted and killed his she-camel and thus challenged and insulted the proclamation of God, consequently bringing on themselves the threatened punishment.
The respite of three days was probably meant as a last chance for repentance of which the unlucky people, however, did not avail themselves.
b
7:78; 26:158; 54:30; 91:15.
1327
The respite of three days was probably meant as a last chance for repentance of which the unlucky people did not avail themselves.
وَمَا مَنَعَنَآ أَن نُّرْسِلَ بِٱلْءَايَٰتِ إِلَّآ أَن كَذَّبَ بِهَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ ٱلنَّاقَةَ مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُوا۟ بِهَا ۚ وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِٱلْءَايَٰتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا
17:95; 18:56.
17:95; 18:56.
Or, the meaning may be: Could the fact that former people rejected the Prophets be the reason that further Signs should not be sent, i.e. it could not be the reason for the withholding of heavenly Signs.
17:95; 18:56.
Important Words:
ظلموا بھا (unjustly rejected it). The word ظلم means, (1) he did wrong; or acted wrongfully, unjustly or tyrannically, (2) he put a thing in a wrong place or in a place not its own. They say من اشبه اباہ فما ظلم i.e. whoso resembles his father, he has not put the likeness in a wrong place; (3) he made him suffer loss as in وما ظلمونا ولکن کانوا انفسھم یظلمون i.e. and they made not Us to suffer loss or detriment but it was themselves they made to suffer loss or detriment. ظلم الارض means, he dug the ground in what was not the place of digging. ظلمه also means, he imposed upon him a thing that was above his power or ability. The word is also used transitively by means of ب as in the Quranic words فظلموا بھا i.e. and they disbelieved in them (the Signs) or unjustly rejected them (Lane & Aqrab). See also 2:36, 52.
Commentary:
The verse beautifully states that heavenly signs will never cease to appear. It warns Muslims not to entertain such a foolish belief and proceeds to refute and demolish the only possible objection against the appearance of heavenly signs. The objection is: When the people to whom the signs were first shown did not profit by them, where was the warrant that their successors would do so? The arguments given in refutation of this objection are: (a) If the rejection of heavenly signs had been a reasonable ground, no Prophet after the very first Prophet—Adam––would have appeared. But this did not happen and fresh Prophets continued to appear in all ages and fresh signs continued to be shown at their hands, which showed that the rejection of signs never proved a barrier in the way of the appearance of new signs. (b) Prophets are sent in the world in order to warn wrongdoers of their transgressions and iniquities and of the impending Divine punishment in consequence of those iniquities. Any such punishment without a previous warning and without showing signs would be contrary to Divine mercy.
As an illustration of the claim that wrongdoers never go unpunished if they do not repent, special mention has been made of the tribe of Thamud because the Thamud were an Arab tribe and their history was a matter of common knowledge with pagan Arabs as well as with the Jews of Arabia.
a
17:95; 18:56.
a
17:95; 18:56.
1989
Important Words:
ظلموا بھا (unjustly rejected it). The word ظلم means, (1) he did wrong; or acted wrongfully, unjustly or tyrannically, (2) he put a thing in a wrong place or in a place not its own. They say من اشبه اباہ فما ظلم i.e. whoso resembles his father, he has not put the likeness in a wrong place; (3) he made him suffer loss as in وما ظلمونا ولکن کانوا انفسھم یظلمون i.e. and they made not Us to suffer loss or detriment but it was themselves they made to suffer loss or detriment. ظلم الارض means, he dug the ground in what was not the place of digging. ظلمه also means, he imposed upon him a thing that was above his power or ability. The word is also used transitively by means of ب as in the Quranic words فظلموا بھا i.e. and they disbelieved in them (the Signs) or unjustly rejected them (Lane & Aqrab). See also 2:36, 52.
Commentary:
The verse beautifully states that heavenly signs will never cease to appear. It warns Muslims not to entertain such a foolish belief and proceeds to refute and demolish the only possible objection against the appearance of heavenly signs. The objection is: When the people to whom the signs were first shown did not profit by them, where was the warrant that their successors would do so? The arguments given in refutation of this objection are: (a) If the rejection of heavenly signs had been a reasonable ground, no Prophet after the very first Prophet—Adam––would have appeared. But this did not happen and fresh Prophets continued to appear in all ages and fresh signs continued to be shown at their hands, which showed that the rejection of signs never proved a barrier in the way of the appearance of new signs. (b) Prophets are sent in the world in order to warn wrongdoers of their transgressions and iniquities and of the impending Divine punishment in consequence of those iniquities. Any such punishment without a previous warning and without showing signs would be contrary to Divine mercy.
As an illustration of the claim that wrongdoers never go unpunished if they do not repent, special mention has been made of the tribe of Thamud because the Thamud were an Arab tribe and their history was a matter of common knowledge with pagan Arabs as well as with the Jews of Arabia.
b
17:95; 18:56.
1627
Or, the meaning may be: Could the fact that former people rejected the Prophets be the reason that further Signs should not be sent, i.e. it could not be the reason for the withholding of heavenly Signs.
قَالَ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ
7:74; 11:65; 17:60; 54:28; 91:14.
7:74; 11:65; 17:60; 54:28; 91:14.
7:74; 11:65; 17:60; 54:28; 91:14.
Important Words:
شرب is infinitive noun from شرب (shariba). شرب الماء means, he drank the water. شرب (shirbun) means, water that one drinks; a draught; a share or portion of water that falls to one’s lot; the use of water for the purpose of watering sown fields or for beasts; turn of drinking; a watering place a time of drinking (Lane & Aqrab).
d
7:74; 11:65; 17:60; 54:28; 91:14.
a
7:74; 11:65; 17:60; 54:28; 91:14.
2783
Important Words:
شرب is infinitive noun from شرب (shariba). شرب الماء means, he drank the water. شرب (shirbun) means, water that one drinks; a draught; a share or portion of water that falls to one’s lot; the use of water for the purpose of watering sown fields or for beasts; turn of drinking; a watering place a time of drinking (Lane & Aqrab).
c
7:74; 11:65; 17:60; 54:28; 91:14.
وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
26:156.
26:156.
See 26:156.
Commentary:
The tribe of Thamud were tried by means of the she-camel. The Prophet Salih used to go about preaching on his she-camel, so interference with her movements meant interference with his work. Metaphorically Salih himself may be regarded as God’s she-camel, i.e. bearer of the Heavenly message, interference with whose movements was tantamount to interference with the plan and design of God Whose Messenger he was. For a fuller note see 7:74.
e
26:156.
b
See 26:156.
2784
Commentary:
The tribe of Thamud were tried by means of the she-camel. The Prophet Salih used to go about preaching on his she-camel, so interference with her movements meant interference with his work. Metaphorically Salih himself may be regarded as God’s she-camel, i.e. bearer of the Heavenly message, interference with whose movements was tantamount to interference with the plan and design of God Whose Messenger he was. For a fuller note see 7:74.
d
26:156.
فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ نَٰدِمِينَ
7:78; 11:66; 54:30; 91:15.
7:78; 11:66; 54:30; 91:15.
7:78; 11:66; 54:30; 91:15.
Important Words:
نادمین (regretful) is the plural of نادم which is derived from ندم. They say ندم علی ما فعل i.e. he grieved for what he had done; he regretted it; he repented of it. The difference between ندامة which is infinitive noun from this verb and توبة is that whereas ندامة means grieving for or regretting a thing that has been done, توبة means the giving up of sins completely for their evilness, coupled with regret and grief for what has passed and the determination to see that it does not occur again and with the resolve to make amends for the moral lapse committed. This is why when a sinner regrets his evil deeds he is called نادم but when he repents of his sins and completely eschews them and is fully resolved against their recurrence and makes amends for the past lapses and turns to God, he is called تائب (Lane).
a
7:78; 11:66; 54:30; 91:15.
a
7:78; 11:66; 54:30; 91:15.
2785
Important Words:
نادمین (regretful) is the plural of نادم which is derived from ندم. They say ندم علی ما فعل i.e. he grieved for what he had done; he regretted it; he repented of it. The difference between ندامة which is infinitive noun from this verb and توبة is that whereas ندامة means grieving for or regretting a thing that has been done, توبة means the giving up of sins completely for their evilness, coupled with regret and grief for what has passed and the determination to see that it does not occur again and with the resolve to make amends for the moral lapse committed. This is why when a sinner regrets his evil deeds he is called نادم but when he repents of his sins and completely eschews them and is fully resolved against their recurrence and makes amends for the past lapses and turns to God, he is called تائب (Lane).
a
7:78; 11:66; 54:30; 91:15.
إِنَّا مُرْسِلُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتْنَةً لَّهُمْ فَٱرْتَقِبْهُمْ وَٱصْطَبِرْ
7:74; 11:65; 17:60.
7:74; 11:65; 17:60.
e
7:74; 11:65; 17:60.
a
7:74; 11:65; 17:60; 26:156; 91:14.
4025
Important Words:
اصطبر means, he was patient or constant; he acquired patience; he was tried with patience. It is the intensive form of صبر(Lane & Aqrab).
b
7:74; 11:65; 17:60.
وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ ٱلْمَآءَ قِسْمَةٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ كُلُّ شِرْبٍ مُّحْتَضَرٌ
Shirb is infinitive noun from Shariba and means, water that one drinks; a draught of water; a share or portion of water which falls to one’s lot; the right to use water for watering fields and beasts; a watering place; a turn or time of drinking. Shurb means, the act of drinking (Lane).
Important Words:
شرب (drinking) is inf. noun from شرب (shariba) and means, water that one drinks; a draught of water; a share or portion of water that falls to one’s lot; the right to use water for watering fields and beasts: a watering place; a turn or time of drinking. شرب (shurbun) means, the act of drinking (Lane & Aqrab).
4026
Important Words:
شرب (drinking) is inf. noun from شرب (shariba) and means, water that one drinks; a draught of water; a share or portion of water that falls to one’s lot; the right to use water for watering fields and beasts: a watering place; a turn or time of drinking. شرب (shurbun) means, the act of drinking (Lane & Aqrab).
2907
Shirb is infinitive noun from Shariba and means, water that one drinks; a draught of water; a share or portion of water which falls to one’s lot; the right to use water for watering fields and beasts; a watering place; a turn or time of drinking. Shurb means, the act of drinking (Lane).
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا
先知撒利 (صَالِح, Salih) 骑上母骆驼四方奔走, 传播安拉的启示。设置障碍阻挡骆驼自由行动就等于设置障碍阻挡撒利本人并使他不能完成安拉委托给他的职责。就某一方面来说, 撒利像每一位安拉的复兴者一样, 是安拉的母骆驼。
The Prophet Salih rode on his she-camel from place to place to preach the Divine Message. Putting obstacles in the way of the camel’s free movements was tantamount to placing impediments in the way of Salih himself and preventing him from discharging the sacred duty entrusted to him by God. In a sense Salih, like every Divine Reformer, was God’s she-camel.
Commentary:
The Prophet Salih kept the she-camel for travels. He rode on it from place to place to preach the Divine Message. Putting obstacles in the way of its free movements was tantamount to placing impediments in the way of Salih himself and preventing him from discharging the sacred duty entrusted to him. In fact, every Divine Reformer is ناقة الله (God’s she-camel).
1707
先知撒利 (صَالِح, Salih) 骑上母骆驼四方奔走, 传播安拉的启示。设置障碍阻挡骆驼自由行动就等于设置障碍阻挡撒利本人并使他不能完成安拉委托给他的职责。就某一方面来说, 撒利像每一位安拉的复兴者一样, 是安拉的母骆驼。
4747
Commentary:
The Prophet Salih kept the she-camel for travels. He rode on it from place to place to preach the Divine Message. Putting obstacles in the way of its free movements was tantamount to placing impediments in the way of Salih himself and preventing him from discharging the sacred duty entrusted to him. In fact, every Divine Reformer is ناقة الله (God’s she-camel).
3361
The Prophet Salih rode on his she-camel from place to place to preach the Divine Message. Putting obstacles in the way of the camel’s free movements was tantamount to placing impediments in the way of Salih himself and preventing him from discharging the sacred duty entrusted to him by God. In a sense Salih, like every Divine Reformer, was God’s she-camel.
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسَوَّىٰهَا
Important Words:
دمدم علیھم (destroyed them completely). They say دمدم فلان علی فلان i.e. such a one spoke to such a one in anger. دمدم علیه means, he destroyed or crushed him completely or punished him thoroughly. دمدم علیھم ربھم means, their Lord crushed them, punished them and destroyed them completely; or made the earth to quake with them or was angry with them (Lane & Aqrab).
4748
Important Words:
دمدم علیھم (destroyed them completely). They say دمدم فلان علی فلان i.e. such a one spoke to such a one in anger. دمدم علیه means, he destroyed or crushed him completely or punished him thoroughly. دمدم علیھم ربھم means, their Lord crushed them, punished them and destroyed them completely; or made the earth to quake with them or was angry with them (Lane & Aqrab).