Surah 15 (Al-Hijr), Verses 61-79 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is from Surah 15, Al-Hijr or the Rocky Tract, verses 61-79. There verses talk of Prophet Lot and how the angels who appeared before him executed Allah’s decree of stoning to death his people.

Tafseer for this selection explains the Companions of the Wood, referenced in verse 78.

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Verses

Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.

So when the emissaries came to the family of Lot (Lüt),[61] he said: “You appear to be strangers.”[62] They said: “We have come to you to accomplish that of which they doubt.[63] We have come to you with the Truth of Allah’s decree and we are telling you the truth.[64] You should, therefore, depart with your family during the last hours of the night and you yourself should follow them at their rear; let no one of you look back, keep on going where you are commanded to go.”[65] We informed him about this decree of Ours that the roots of the sinners of his city would be cut off by the morning.[66] The people of the town came rejoicing to the house of Lot when they heard the news of those two young male visitors.[67] Lot said: “They are my guests, so do not disgrace me.[68] Have fear of Allah and do not put me to shame.”[69] They said: “Have we not forbidden you to plead for the rest of the world?”[70] He said: “Here are my daughters, if you must act.”[71] By your life, O Prophet Muhammad, they were madly blundering in their intoxication of lust![72] So the mighty blast overtook them at sunrise.[73] Thus We turned the town upside down and rained down on them brim-stones of baked clay.[74] Surely there are major lessons in this for those who investigate,[75] and this smitten town still lies right on the permanent highway on which the unbelievers travel during their business trips.[76] Indeed there is a sign in this for the true believers.[77] And the Companions of the Wood were also wrongdoers.[78] So We inflicted retribution on them. The ruined towns of these two nations are lying on an open road.[79] 15:[61-79]

Ameen.

Tafseer

On the Companions of the Wood in verse 78:

“Companions of the Wood”: Ashab al Aykah. Perhaps Aykah is after all a proper noun, the name of a town or tract. Who were the Companions of Aykah? They are mentioned four times in the Qur’an, viz., here and in 26:176-191, 38:13 and 50:14. The only passage in which any details are given is 26:176-191. There were are told that their Prophet was Shu’aib, and other details given correspond to those of the Madyan, to whom Shu’aib was sent as a Prophet: see 7:85-93. It is reasonable to suppose that the Companions of the Wood were either the same as the Madyan, or a group among them or in their neighborhood.

This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.

Thank you and be well.