| 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 Allâh Who created them was mightier in strength than them. And they used to deny Our Ayât!
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So, We sent upon them a Sarsâr wind in days of calamity that We might give them a taste of disgracing torment in this present worldly life. But surely the torment of the Hereafter will be more disgracing, and they will never be helped. And as for Thamûd, We showed them the path of truth but they preferred blindiness to guidance; so the Sa`iqah of disgracing torment seized them because of what they used to earn. And We saved those who believed and had Taqwa.( Qur’ân, Fussilat [41:15-18]) |
| “As for `Ad, they were arrogant in the land without right.” |
means, they were arrogant, stubborn and disobedient.
| “and they said: ‘Who is mightier than us in strength?'” |
They boasted of their physical strength, and power; they thought that this would protect them from Allâh’s punishment.
| “See they not that Allâh Who created them was mightier in strength than them.” |
Means, do they not realize, when they are showing enmity, that He is the Almighty Who created all things and gave them whatever strength they have, and that His onslaught will be far greater? This is like the Ayah:
| “With Hands did We construct the heaven. Verily, We are able to extend the vastness of space thereof.” (51:47) |
They openly opposed the Almighty and denied His signs and disobeyed His Messenger. Allâh said:
| “So We sent upon them a Sarsâr wind.” |
Some said that this was strongly blowing wind; others said that it was a cold wind. It was also said that it is the wind that makes a noise. The truth that it was all of these things, for it was a strong wind that was an apt punishment for their being deceived by their physical strength. It was also intensely cold, as Allâh says:
“with a Sarsar wind!” (69:6), meaning a very cold wind. It also made a furious sound. Additionally, there is a famous river in the east which is called Sarsar because of the noise it makes as it flows.
in days of calamity” means, consecutive days.
“seven nights and eight days in succession” (69:7). This is like the Ayah:
“on a day of calamity, continuous” (54:19) i.e., the punishment began on a day which was of evil omen for them, and this evil omen continued for them,
“seven nights and eight days in succession” (69:7) until they were destroyed, every last one of them, and their humiliation in this world was joined to their punishment in the Hereafter. Allâh says:
| ” that We might give them a taste of disgracing torment in this present worldly life. But surely the torment of the Hereafter will be more disgracing.” |
| “And as for Thamûd, We showed them the path of truth” |
Ibn ‘Abbâs, may Allâh be pleased with him, Abu Al-Aliyah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Qatâdah, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd said, “We explained to them.” [At-Tabari 21:448 Sûrah Hûd 11:94] Ath-Thawri said, “We called them.”
Allâh’s saying: “but they preferred blindness to guidance;”
means, ‘We showed them the truth and made it clear to them through the words of their Prophet Sâlih, but they opposed him and rejected him, and they slaughtered the she-camel of Allâh which He had made a sign for them of the truth of their Prophet.’
“so the Sâ `iqah of disgracing torment seized them”
means, Allâh sent upon them the Sâ`iqah, [See volume five, the Tafsîr of Sûrah Hûd 11:94] earthquake, intense humiliation, punishment and torment.
“because of what they used to earn” means, because of their disbelief and rejection.
“And We saved those who believed”
means, ‘We saved them from among them, and no harm came to them;’ Allâh saved them along with His Prophet Sâlih, peace be upon him, because of their fear of Allâh.
(NOTE: If you want to build a strong and powerful relationship with Allah, check out Islamia TV, where you can watch Islamic speakers from across the globe deliver inspiring and motivational courses. Learn more at www.islamia.tv.)
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