46:25 Al-Ahqaf (The Dunes)

{ تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ } تمر عليه من شدتها ونحسها.فسلطها الله عليهم { سبع ليالي وثمانية أيام حسوما فترى القوم فيها صرعى كأنهم أعجاز نخل خاوية } [ { بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا } أي: بإذنه ومشيئته]. { فَأَصْبَحُوا لَا يُرَى إِلَّا مَسَاكِنُهُمْ } قد تلفت مواشيهم وأموالهم وأنفسهم. { كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ } بسبب جرمهم وظلمهم.

"تدمر" أي تخرب "كل شيء" من بلادهم مما من شأنه الخراب "بأمر ربها" أي بإذن الله لها في ذلك كقوله سبحانه وتعالى "ما تذر من شيء أتت عليه إلا جعلته كالرميم" أي كالشيء البالي ولهذا قال عز وجل "فأصبحوا لا يرى إلا مساكنهم" أي قد بادوا كلهم عن آخرهم ولم تبق لهم باقية "كذلك نجزي القوم المجرمين" أي هذا حكمنا فيمن كذب رسلنا وخالف أمرنا وقد ورد حديث في قصتهم وهو غريب جدا من غرائب الحديث وأفراده قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا زيد بن الحباب حدثني أبو المنذر سلام بن سليمان النحوي قال حدثنا عاصم بن أبي النجود عن أبي وائل عن الحارث البكري قال خرجت أشكو العلاء بن الحضرمي إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فمررت بالربذة فإذا عجوز من بني تميم منقطع بها فقالت لي يا عبدالله: إن لي إلى رسول الله حاجة فهل أنت مبلغي إليه؟ قال فحملتها فأتيت بها المدينة فإذا المسجد غاص بأهله وإذا راية سوداء تخفق وإذا بلال رضي الله عنه متقلدا السيف بين يدي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقلت ما شأن الناس؟ قالوا يريد أن يبعث عمرو بن العاص رضى الله عنه وجها قال فجلست فدخل منزله أو قال رحله فاستأذنت عليه فأذن لي فدخلت فسلمت فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم " هل كان بينكم وبين تميم شيء؟ " قلت نعم وكانت لنا الدائرة عليهم ومررت بعجوز من بني تميم منقطع بها فسألتني أن أحملها إليك فها هي بالباب فإذن لها فدخلت فقلت يا رسول الله إني رأيت أن تجعل بيننا وبين تميم حاجزا فاجعل الدهناء فحميت العجوز واستوفزت وقالت يا رسول الله فإلى أين يضطر مضطرك؟ قال: قلت إن مثلي ما قال الأول: معزى حملت حتفها حملت هذه ولا أشعر أنها كانت لي خصما أعوذ بالله ورسوله أن أكون كوافد عاد قال لي " وما وافد عاد؟ " وهو أعلم بالحديث منه ولكن يستطعمه قلت إن عادا قحطوا فبعوا وفدا لهم يقال له قيل فمر بمعاوية بن بكر فأقام عنده شهرا يسقيه الخمر وتغنيه جاريتان يقال لهما الجرادتان فلما مضى الشهر خرج إلى جبال مهرة فقال اللهم إنك تعلم أني لم أجيء إلى مريض فأداويه ولا إلى أسير فأفاديه اللهم اسق عادا ما كنت تسقيه فمرت به سحابات سود فنودي منها اختر فأومأ إلى سحابة منها سوداء فنودي منها خذها رمادا لا تبقى من عاد أحدا قال فما بلغني أنه أرسل عليهم من الريح إلا قدر ما يجري في خاتمي هذا حتى هلكوا قال أبو وائل وصدق وكانت المرأة والرجل إذا بعثوا وافدا لهم قالوا لا تكن كوافد عاد ورواه الترمذي والنسائي وابن ماجه كما تقدم في سورة الأعراف. وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا هارون بن معروف أخبرنا ابن وهب أخبرنا عمرو أن أبا النضر حدثه عن سليمان بن يسار عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها قالت ما رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مستجمعا ضاحكا حتى أرى منه لهواته إنما كان يتبسم وقالت كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا رأى غيما أو ريحا عرف ذلك في وجهه قالت يا رسول الله إن الناس إذا رأوا الغيم فرحوا رجاء أن يكون فيه المطر وأراك إذا رأيته عرفت في وجهك الكراهية فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " يا عائشة ما يؤمنني أن يكون فيه عذاب قد عذب قوم بالريح وقد رأى قوم العذاب وقالوا هذا عارض ممطرنا " وأخرجاه من حديث ابن وهب "طريق أخرى" قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عبدالرحمن عن سفيان عن المقدام بن شريح عن أبيه جن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا رأى ناشئا في أفق من آفاق السماء ترك عمله وإن كان في صلاته ثم يقول "اللهم إني أعوذ بك من شر ما فيه فإن كشفه الله تعالى حمد الله عز وجل وإن أمطر قال اللهم صيبا نافعا " "طريق أخرى" قال مسلم فى صحيحه حدثنا أبو بكر الطاهر أخبرنا ابن وهب قال سمعت ابن جريج يحدثنا عن عطاء بن أبي رباح عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا عصفت الريح قال "اللهم إني أسألك خيرها وخير ما فيها وخير ما أرسلت به وأعوذ بك من شرها وشر ما فيها وشر ما أرسلت به " قالت وإذا تخبلت السماء تغير لونه وخرج ودخل وأقبل وأدبر فإذا أمطرت سري عنه فعرفت ذلك عائشة رضي الله عنها فسألته فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " لعله يا عائشة كما قال قوم عاد "فلما رأوه عارضا مستقبل أوديتهم قالوا هذا عارض ممطرنا" وقد ذكرنا قصة هلاك قوم عاد في سورة الأعراف وهود بما أغنى عن إعادته ههنا ولله تعالى الحمد والمنة وقال الطبراني حدثنا عبدان بن أحمد حدثنا إسماعيل بن زكريا الكوفي حدثنا أبو مالك بن مسلم الملائي عن مجاهد وسعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " ما فتح على عاد من الريح إلا مثل موضع الخاتم ثم أرسلت عليهم في البدو إلى الحضر فلما رآها أهل الحضر قالوا هذا عارض ممطرنا مستقبل أوديتنا وكان أهل البوادي فيها فألقى أهل البادية على أهل الحاضرة حتى هلكوا ـ قال ـ عتت على خزانها حتى خرجت من خلال الأبواب " والله سبحانه وتعالى أعلم.

The Story of `Ad

Allah says, consoling His Prophet in regard to the rejection of those who opposed him among his people,

وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ

(And remember the brother of `Ad,) This refers to Hud, peace be upon in him. Allah sent him to the first people of `Ad who inhabited Al-Ahqaf. Ahqaf is plural of Haqf. According to Ibn Zayd, it means a sand dune; and according to `Ikrimah, it means a mountain or a cave. Qatadah said: "We were informed that `Ad was a tribe in Yemen. They dwelt among sand (hills), and overlooked the sea in a land called Ash-Shihr." Under the chapter, "He Who supplicates should first mention Himself," Ibn Majah recorded that Ibn `Abbas narrated that the Prophet said:

«يَرْحَمُنَا اللهُ وَأَخَا عَاد»

(May Allah have mercy on us and the Brother of `Ad.) Allah then says,

وَقَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ

(And surely, warners had already passed on before him and after him.) meaning, Allah had sent Messengers and warners to the towns surrounding the land of `Ad. This is similar to Allah's saying,

فَجَعَلْنَـهَا نَكَـلاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا

(And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded them. ) (2:66) And it is also similar to Allah's saying,

فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُواْ فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَـعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَـعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ إِذْ جَآءَتْهُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ

(But if they turn away, then say: "I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt that struck `Ad and Thamud. (That occurred) when the Messengers had come to them from before them and after them (saying): "Worship none but Allah.") (41:13-14) Allah then says,

إِنِّى أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

(truly, I fear for you the torment of a mighty Day.) meaning, Hud said this to them (his people), and they responded to him saying,

أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَأْفِكَنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا

(Have you come to delude us from our gods) meaning, to prevent us.

عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا

(from our gods)

فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ

(Then bring us that with which you threaten us, if you are one of the truthful!) They sought to hasten Allah's torment and punishment, believing that it will not happen. This is similar to Allah's saying,

يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا

(Those who do not believe in it (the Last Hour) seek to hasten it) (42:18). Hud's response was,

قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَ اللَّهِ

(He said: "The knowledge (of that) is only with Allah.") which means, `Allah knows best about you. If you deserve the punishment to be hastened, He will do that to you. As for me, my duty is to deliver my message to you.'

وَلَـكِنِّى أَرَاكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ

(But I see that you are a people given to ignorance!) which means, `you have no comprehension or understanding.' Allah then says,

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضاً مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ

(Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud approaching their valleys,) meaning, when they saw the punishment coming towards them, they thought it to be clouds full of rain. That made them happy and joyful, because they had a drought and needed rain. Allah then said,

بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

(Nay, but it is that which you were asking to be hastened -- a wind wherein is a painful torment!) meaning, this is the torment that you called for saying, "Bring to us what you promise us if you should be of the truthful."

تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ

(Destroying every thing) meaning, destroying every part of their land that could normally be destroyed.

بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا

(by the command of its Lord!) meaning, it had Allah's permission to do that. This is similar to Allah's saying,

مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ جَعَلَتْهُ كَالرَّمِيمِ

d(It spared nothing that it reached, but blew it into broken spreads of rotten ruins.) (51:42) meaning, like something dilapidated (or decrepit). Because of this, Allah says,

فَأْصْبَحُواْ لاَ يُرَى إِلاَّ مَسَـكِنُهُمْ

(So they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings!) means, all of them were destroyed, and none of them were spared. Allah then says:

كَذلِكَ نَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

(Thus do We recompense the criminal people!) which means that this is Our judgement regarding those who reject Our Messengers and disobey Our commands. Imam Ahmad recorded from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said, "I never saw Allah's Messenger ﷺ fully laughing so that I would see his uvula. He would only smile." She added that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw clouds or wind, that would reflect on his face (as discomfort). She asked him: "O Allah's Messenger! When the people see clouds, they become happy, hoping that they bring them rain. But I notice that when you see them, displeasure appears on your face." Allah's Messenger ﷺ replied,

«يَا عَائِشَةُ، مَا يُؤْمِنُنِي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ، قَدْ عُذِّبَ قَوْمٌ بِالرِّيحِ، وَقَدْ رَأَى قَوْمٌ الْعَذَابَ وَقَالُوا: هذَا عَارِضٌ مُمْطِرُنَا»

(O `A'ishah! What would guarantee to me that they do not bring punishment Some nations had been punished with wind. On seeing the punishment approaching them, a nation once said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain.") This is also recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw clouds on any of the horizons, he would leave whatever he was doing -- even if he was in prayer -- and say:

«اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِيه»

(O Allah! I seek refuge with you from any harm that it (the cloud) contains.) If Allah removed those clouds, the Prophet would praise Allah, and if rain fell, he would say:

«اللْهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا»

(O Allah! Make it pouring and beneficent.) Muslim also recorded in his Sahih from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that when the wind blew, Allah's Messenger ﷺ would say,

«اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ،وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِه»

(O Allah! I ask You of its good, the good that it contains, and the good with which it has been sent. And I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil that it contains, and the evil with which it has been sent.) She added that if the sky became cloudy, his color would change; he would exit, enter, come, and go. When it rained, his anxiety would be relieved. When `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, noticed that, she asked him about it and he said:

«لَعَلَّهُ يَا عَائِشَةُ كَمَا قَالَ قَوْمُ عَادٍ:

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضاً مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُواْ هَـذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمْطِرُنَا»

(O `A'ishah! It could be like what the people of `Ad said, (Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!")) We have previously mentioned the story of the destruction of the people of `Ad in both Surat Al-A`raf and Surah Hud. Thus, there is no need to repeat it here; and verily Allah is worthy of all praise and gratitude.

destroying ruining everything it passes through by the command of its Lord by His will that is to say destroying everything that He wants to destroy with it. And so it destroyed their men women children and properties by flinging them up into the air high above the ground and tearing them to pieces. Only Hūd and those who believed with him remained unscathed. So they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings. Thus in the way that We requited them do We requite guilty folk besides them.

{ 1} The reference here is to the towns of Thamud and the people of Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) that were in the way of the people of Arabia while they travelled to Syria. The people of ` Ad were in Yemen, towards South from Makkah, while the towns of Thamud and those of Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) were towards North, hence the words, "around you"

Commentary

These verses are to remind the infidels of the severe punishments faced by earlier people who rejected the messengers sent to them. Special reference is made to ` Ad, the people of Sayyidna Hud (علیہ السلام) who has been described as their 'brother', firstly because he belonged to their tribe, and secondly because he was their well-wisher as a brother. Since this nation lived in valleys surrounded by long, curved sand dunes, called in Arabic Ahqaf , special reference is made to these dunes, so that one could find out their places, if he so wishes when traveling to their localities. It is mentioned in verse 22 that they themselves demanded Allah's punishment to be brought upon them. Then verse 24 states that the punishment was sent to them in the form of a cloud that appeared to be benign, and therefore they were happy to see it in the hope that it would bring rain to them, but in fact it contained the divine punishment in the form of a violent wind that destroyed everything, leaving nothing except their empty homes that remained as a sign for those who might learn a lesson. The detailed account of the story of ` Ad and Thamud has already been given in Surah Hud (11:50) for which volume 4, page 643 of this book may be consulted. Mention of these events in these verses is in the form of a brief reference, and in verse 26 the infidels of Makkah are reminded that those nations were much more powerful and well-established than the people of Makkah. Still, their power and strength was of no use to them against Allah's punishment. Moreover, verse 28 points out that the false gods believed by them to be their patrons could not save them from the torment they faced, because they were coined only by their false imagination, having no real existence at all.