بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Sad 38:12
The Letter "Saad" · Juz 23 · Page 453
كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ وَعَادٞ وَفِرۡعَوۡنُ ذُو ٱلۡأَوۡتَادِ ١٢
The people of Noah denied before them, and [the tribe of] ʿAad and Pharaoh, the owner of stakes,1
1 translator’s note
- By which he tortured people. ↩
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 38:12
وَفِرْعَوْنُ ذُو الْأَوْتَادِ (and Fir'aun, the man of the stakes - 12). The literal meaning of this expression appearing in verse 12 is 'Pharaoh of the stakes or pegs'. The commentators have explained this phrase in different ways. Some of them have said that this phrase refers to the stability of his dominion, and the sense is that the stakes or pegs of his kingdom were well-rooted in his country. Maulana Thanavi (رح) has translated the phrase according to this explanation. Some others have said that he used to punish people by making them lie flat on the ground and driving stakes or pegs through their hands and feet, and on top of that, he would have snakes and scorpions released over the victim's body. Still others have said that he used to play some kind of a game with ropes and pegs, and then, there are those who say that 'al-autad' or pegs means buildings, for he had set up very strong structures (Tafsir Qurtubi). Pure is Allah who knows best.
Page 453
سورة ص
Sad
The Letter "Saad" · Meccan · 88 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
38:1
صٓۚ وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ ذِي ٱلذِّكۡرِ ١
38:2
بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي عِزَّةٖ وَشِقَاقٖ ٢
But those who disbelieve are in pride and dissension.
38:3
كَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّن قَرۡنٖ فَنَادَواْ وَّلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٖ ٣
How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape.
38:4
وَعَجِبُوٓاْ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٞ مِّنۡهُمۡۖ وَقَالَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا سَٰحِرٞ كَذَّابٌ ٤
And they wonder that there has come to them a warner [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] from among themselves. And the disbelievers say, "This is a magician and a liar.
38:5
أَجَعَلَ ٱلۡأٓلِهَةَ إِلَٰهٗا وَٰحِدًاۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيۡءٌ عُجَابٞ ٥
Has he made the gods [only] one God? Indeed, this is a curious thing."
38:6
وَٱنطَلَقَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِنۡهُمۡ أَنِ ٱمۡشُواْ وَٱصۡبِرُواْ عَلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِكُمۡۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيۡءٞ يُرَادُ ٦
And the eminent among them went forth, [saying], "Continue, and be patient over [the defense of] your gods. Indeed, this is a thing intended.1
1 translator’s note
- Planned by Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) in order to gain influence and prestige for himself. ↩
38:7
مَا سَمِعۡنَا بِهَٰذَا فِي ٱلۡمِلَّةِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا ٱخۡتِلَٰقٌ ٧
We have not heard of this in the latest religion.1 This is not but a fabrication.
1 translator’s note
- Referring to Christianity or possibly the pagan religion of the Quraysh. ↩
38:8
أَءُنزِلَ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلذِّكۡرُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِنَاۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ فِي شَكّٖ مِّن ذِكۡرِيۚ بَل لَّمَّا يَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِ ٨
Has the message been revealed to him out of [all of] us?" Rather, they are in doubt about My message. Rather, they have not yet tasted My punishment.
38:9
أَمۡ عِندَهُمۡ خَزَآئِنُ رَحۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡوَهَّابِ ٩
Or do they have the depositories of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower?1
1 translator’s note
- Refer to footnote of verse 3:8. ↩
38:10
أَمۡ لَهُم مُّلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَاۖ فَلۡيَرۡتَقُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَسۡبَٰبِ ١٠
Or is theirs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and what is between them? Then let them ascend through [any] ways of access.1
1 translator’s note
- To oversee the affairs of their dominion. ↩
38:11
جُندٞ مَّا هُنَالِكَ مَهۡزُومٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابِ ١١
[They are but] soldiers [who will be] defeated there among the companies [of disbelievers].
38:12
كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ وَعَادٞ وَفِرۡعَوۡنُ ذُو ٱلۡأَوۡتَادِ ١٢
The people of Noah denied before them, and [the tribe of] ʿAad and Pharaoh, the owner of stakes,1
1 translator’s note
- By which he tortured people. ↩
38:13
وَثَمُودُ وَقَوۡمُ لُوطٖ وَأَصۡحَٰبُ لۡـَٔيۡكَةِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابُ ١٣
And [the tribe of] Thamūd and the people of Lot and the companions of the thicket [i.e., people of Madyan]. Those are the companies.1
1 translator’s note
- That were defeated, among whom will be the disbelievers of Quraysh and others. ↩
38:14
إِن كُلٌّ إِلَّا كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ عِقَابِ ١٤
Each of them denied the messengers, so My penalty was justified.
38:15
وَمَا يَنظُرُ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِلَّا صَيۡحَةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ مَّا لَهَا مِن فَوَاقٖ ١٥
And these [disbelievers] await not but one blast [of the Horn]; for it there will be no delay.1
1 translator’s note
- Or "respite." More literally, "a period between two milkings of a she-camel," which also alludes to the meanings of "return" or "repetition." ↩
38:16
وَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا عَجِّل لَّنَا قِطَّنَا قَبۡلَ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ١٦
And they say, "Our Lord, hasten for us our share [of the punishment] before the Day of Account."