بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Qaf 50:36
The Letter "Qaf" · Juz 26 · Page 520
وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ هُمۡ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُم بَطۡشٗا فَنَقَّبُواْ فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ هَلۡ مِن مَّحِيصٍ ٣٦
And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 50:36
Warning the Disbelievers of the imminent Torment
In the concluding sentence of verse [ 36] نَقَّبُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ (and they searched out the cities: Was there any place to escape?), the verb نَقَّبُوا naqqabu is derived from the infinitive tanqib which literally means to make a hole, to perforate or pierce. Idiomatically, it connotes to go or go away through the distant land or country or journey or traverse. (al-Qamus).
The word mahis means asylum or a place of refuge. In this verse Allah poses a rhetorical question to the unbelievers: How many generations We have destroyed before you! They were more numerous and mightier than you, and they traveled throughout the land for trade and business, but they could not find shelter from their destined death. No land could give them shelter.
Page 520
50:36
وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ هُمۡ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُم بَطۡشٗا فَنَقَّبُواْ فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ هَلۡ مِن مَّحِيصٍ ٣٦
And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?
50:37
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكۡرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُۥ قَلۡبٌ أَوۡ أَلۡقَى ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٞ ٣٧
Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].
50:38
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٖ ٣٨
And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness.
50:39
فَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ قَبۡلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمۡسِ وَقَبۡلَ ٱلۡغُرُوبِ ٣٩
So be patient, [O Muḥammad], over what they say and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting,
50:40
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَسَبِّحۡهُ وَأَدۡبَٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ ٤٠
And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration [i.e., prayer].
50:41
وَٱسۡتَمِعۡ يَوۡمَ يُنَادِ ٱلۡمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانٖ قَرِيبٖ ٤١
And listen on the Day when the Caller1 will call out from a place that is near -
1 translator’s note
- An angel who will call out Allāh's command for the Resurrection. ↩
50:42
يَوۡمَ يَسۡمَعُونَ ٱلصَّيۡحَةَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡخُرُوجِ ٤٢
The Day they will hear the blast [of the Horn] in truth. That is the Day of Emergence [from the graves].
50:43
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡيِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيۡنَا ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ٤٣
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination
50:44
يَوۡمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ عَنۡهُمۡ سِرَاعٗاۚ ذَٰلِكَ حَشۡرٌ عَلَيۡنَا يَسِيرٞ ٤٤
On the Day the earth breaks away from them [and they emerge] rapidly; that is a gathering easy for Us.
50:45
نَّحۡنُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِجَبَّارٖۖ فَذَكِّرۡ بِٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ ٤٥
We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant.1 But remind by the Qur’ān whoever fears My threat.
1 translator’s note
- Forcing people to belief or submission. ↩
سورة الذاريات
Adh-Dhariyat
The Winnowing Winds · Meccan · 60 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
51:1
وَٱلذَّٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرۡوٗا ١
By the [winds] scattering [dust], dispersing [it]
51:2
فَٱلۡحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقۡرٗا ٢
And the [clouds] carrying a load [of water]
51:3
فَٱلۡجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسۡرٗا ٣
And the ships sailing with ease
51:4
فَٱلۡمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمۡرًا ٤
And the [angels] apportioning [each] matter,
51:5
إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٞ ٥
Indeed, what you are promised is true.
51:6
وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعٞ ٦
And indeed, the recompense is to occur.