Interpretation of Surah AL Shams (The Sun): part 6
The same way the moon, the earth’s day light and the night’s darkness and the earth sphere have an important role in the life of human beings and others for this reason the vows are pledged in their name. More than everything the soul and the body of man is the most mysterious establishment.
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِطَغْوَاهَا (91:11): Thamud or (Samud tribe)denied (their prophet) because of their transgression,
إِذِ انبَعَثَ أَشْقَاهَا (91:12): When the wicked man among them went forth (to kill the she-camel).
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ نَاقَةَ اللَّهِ وَسُقْيَاهَا (91:13): And the messenger of Allah [Salih] told them, "(Do not harm) the she-camel of Allah or (prevent her) from drinking water."
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنبِهِمْ فَسَوَّاهَا (91:14): Then they denied him and killed (the she-camel). So their Lord destroyed them because of their sin, destroying them all alike.
وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَاهَا (91:15): For none [of them] had any fear of what might fall its consequence.
The definition:
The deadly result of the transgressors
It is mentioned following the forewarning in the previous verse about the result of the people who build their inner self unclean and filthy. In these verses, in brief and firm vocabulary, as an example of a true historical evident is revealed and the consequence of the transgressing nation of Samud is stated.
The people of Samud by their transgression denied their prophet and the divine signs.
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِطَغْوَاهَا
طُغ?ان ,طَغْوَا
Both these terms have the same meaning and it means to trespass the limits. Here by the term trespass it means to break the divine limits and disobey the Beneficent God’s commands.
The prophet of the nation of Samud was Salih (A.S) they were the most ancient people of the world, living in a mountainous environment in between the Syria and the Hijaz, the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. They were enjoying an extravagant life, the populated lands with even grounds and the favourable soil ready for agriculture, the royal palaces and the concrete houses. Instead of thanking the bounties of the Majestic God they began to break the divine rules. And raised their heads against their prophet, Salih (A.S) and mocked harshly the divine signs. At last the Sovereign God destroyed them by the thunderbolt ‘a flash of lightning with the accompanying thunder’ killed and destroyed them all.
Then mentioned a clear example of the tribe of Samud and added: When the most ruthless transgressor among the tribe, raised up.
إِذِ انبَعَثَ أَشْقَاهَا
أَشْقَا
The above term means the most ruthless and stone hearted man. It indicated a man among the people of the Samud tribe who killed the she-camel. A miraculous female camel sent by Benevolent God for the people of Samud. And killing this camel was like the announcement of war against the prophet of Powerful God.
According to the statement of the interpreters and the historians the name of this man was Qadar bin Salif.
In some of the narrations, it is mentioned that the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked Hazrat Ali (A.S): Who was the most pitiless and brutal man among the ancient people? He replied: The one who killed the she-camel of the Samud tribe. The prophet peace be upon him replied: You are right. And who is the most brutal man in recent period? Hazrat Ali (A.S) replied: I have no idea, O prophet of Allah. The great prophet (PBUH) replied: the one who pierce this part of your head, pointing the upper part of the forehead of hazrat Ali (A.S).
In the next verse they explained more about the background of the transgression of Samud or Thamud tribe and add: the prophet (PBUH) told them: Leave the divine she- camel alone to drink water along the canal and do not disturb her.
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ نَاقَةَ اللَّهِ وَسُقْيَاهَا (91:13)
Here by the messenger of Allah means the prophet Salih (A.S) the messenger of the Samud tribe and by the divine she camel, it is expressing that this she-camel is not the common animal but it was appeared as the miracle and the valid document proving the claim of prophet Salih (A.S). According to the specification of the famous narrations, the above mentioned she-camel emerged from the mountain rock to present the rational miracle before the stubborn deniers and the unbelievers.
From the other verses of Noble Qur’an it is evident that Hazrat Salih (A.S) informed them, the drinking water of the town must be divided between the she camel and the people of the tribe. One day the drinking water must be left for the she- camel and the next day for the people. Each of them should drink the water according to their turn and they must not disturb each other.
Al-Qamar (The Moon)
وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ الْمَاء قِسْمَةٌ بَيْنَهُمْ كُلُّ شِرْبٍ مُّحْتَضَرٌ (54:28)
And inform them that the water of the canal is to be shared between the she-camel and people). Each one's right to drink being established (by turns).
Particularly the prophet told them: In the case, if you oppose this divine she-camel, the chastisement of the Dominant God will grab your skirt one horrifying day.
Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets)
وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ (26:156)
And do not touch her with harm, lest you be seized by the punishment of a terrible day."
Source: alhassanain.com
Other links:
Interpretation of Surah AL Shams (The Sun): part 1
Interpretation of Surah AL Shams (The Sun): part 2
Interpretation of surah At-Tin (The Fig): part 1
Interpretation of surah At-Tin (The Fig): part 2
