Ash-Shu'ara 26:129
The Poets · Juz 19 · Page 372
وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَخۡلُدُونَ ١٢٩
And take for yourselves constructions [i.e., palaces and fortresses] that you might abide eternally?
Tafsir · in English
Tazkirul Quran
Brief · Short modern reflections on each passage.
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Commentary on 26:123–135
The ‘Ad was a community which rose to prominence after Noah’s people were destroyed (see 7:69). Almighty God blessed this community with everything—health, prosperity, power, etc. Had they been grateful for these blessings, they would have developed a feeling of humility. But, instead, they became proud, thinking that the best use of their resources was to upgrade their standard of living and to elevate their name. They considered the erecting of stone icons their greatest task. If such people have any difference with or complaint against anyone, their pride makes them go beyond all limits. They consider any injustice perpetrated against one who is the object of their disapproval to be legitimate and proper. They simply want to crush him with all their might. Prosperity in the world makes them fearless of retribution in the Hereafter. Those who consider themselves safe from the ultimate reckoning can go to any extent to harm others. People who enjoy prosperity and dominance develop a high degree of false self-confidence. This false confidence prevents them from understanding the Truth when presented to them by people who do not belong to their group. They do not give importance to the advice of the admonisher, who may be most trustworthy, and even though he be God’s messenger. Such people accept the Truth only when they confront God’s punishment, but such acceptance will be of no avail.
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26:112
قَالَ وَمَا عِلۡمِي بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١١٢
He said, "And what is my knowledge of what they used to do?
26:113
إِنۡ حِسَابُهُمۡ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّيۖ لَوۡ تَشۡعُرُونَ ١١٣
Their account is only upon my Lord, if you [could] perceive.
26:114
وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِطَارِدِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ١١٤
And I am not one to drive away the believers.
26:115
إِنۡ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٞ ١١٥
I am only a clear warner."
26:116
قَالُواْ لَئِن لَّمۡ تَنتَهِ يَٰنُوحُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمَرۡجُومِينَ ١١٦
They said, "If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be of those who are stoned."
26:117
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوۡمِي كَذَّبُونِ ١١٧
He said, "My Lord, indeed my people have denied me.
26:118
فَٱفۡتَحۡ بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَهُمۡ فَتۡحٗا وَنَجِّنِي وَمَن مَّعِيَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ١١٨
Then judge between me and them with decisive judgement and save me and those with me of the believers."
26:119
فَأَنجَيۡنَٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلۡمَشۡحُونِ ١١٩
So We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.
26:120
ثُمَّ أَغۡرَقۡنَا بَعۡدُ ٱلۡبَاقِينَ ١٢٠
Then We drowned thereafter the remaining ones.
26:121
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكۡثَرُهُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ ١٢١
Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.
26:122
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ١٢٢
And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
26:123
كَذَّبَتۡ عَادٌ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ١٢٣
ʿAad denied the messengers
26:124
إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُمۡ أَخُوهُمۡ هُودٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ١٢٤
When their brother Hūd said to them, "Will you not fear Allāh?
26:125
إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٞ ١٢٥
Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.
26:126
فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ ١٢٦
So fear Allāh and obey me.
26:127
وَمَآ أَسۡـَٔلُكُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ مِنۡ أَجۡرٍۖ إِنۡ أَجۡرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ١٢٧
And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.
26:128
أَتَبۡنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةٗ تَعۡبَثُونَ ١٢٨
Do you construct on every elevation a sign,1 amusing yourselves,
1 translator’s note
- i.e., a symbol or indication of their wealth and power. They used to build lofty structures along the road to be seen by all who passed by. ↩
26:129
وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَخۡلُدُونَ ١٢٩
And take for yourselves constructions [i.e., palaces and fortresses] that you might abide eternally?
26:130
وَإِذَا بَطَشۡتُم بَطَشۡتُمۡ جَبَّارِينَ ١٣٠
And when you strike, you strike as tyrants.
26:131
فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ ١٣١
So fear Allāh and obey me.
26:132
وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَمَدَّكُم بِمَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ١٣٢
And fear He who provided you with that which you know,
26:133
أَمَدَّكُم بِأَنۡعَٰمٖ وَبَنِينَ ١٣٣
Provided you with grazing livestock and children
26:134
وَجَنَّٰتٖ وَعُيُونٍ ١٣٤
And gardens and springs.
26:135
إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٖ ١٣٥
Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."
26:136
قَالُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡنَآ أَوَعَظۡتَ أَمۡ لَمۡ تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡوَٰعِظِينَ ١٣٦
They said, "It is all the same to us whether you advise or are not of the advisors.