فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ 91
Translations
So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.
Transliteration
Fa-akhdhathum al-rajfatu fa-asbahoo fee darehim jathimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the earthquake (rajfah) that seized the people of Shu'ayb as divine punishment for their rejection of his message and their persistent practice of fraud in commerce. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that the tremor was so severe that it left them dead and motionless (jathimeen) in their homes, illustrating the swift and overwhelming nature of Allah's punishment upon those who persistently deny His signs. The ayah emphasizes that despite the warnings and miracles presented by the prophet, their arrogance led to their destruction.
Revelation Context
This verse is part of the narrative of Prophet Shu'ayb (Jethro) in Surah Al-A'raf, which recounts the stories of various prophets and their peoples. The context describes Shu'ayb's mission to the people of Madyan, who were known for cheating in weights and measures. After repeated calls to righteousness and warnings, Allah sent the earthquake as the final punishment, demonstrating the consequences of sustained rejection of divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The concept of divine punishment is reflected in numerous hadiths. Notably, Tirmidhi reports from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned various punishments for different sins, emphasizing that deception in commerce is among the grave transgressions. Additionally, the theme of earthquakes as signs of the Hour is addressed in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that persistent rejection of divine guidance and ethical corruption in dealings leads to irreversible divine punishment, reminding believers that honesty in commerce and receptiveness to prophetic warnings are essential for salvation. It serves as a stern warning for all generations that no amount of wealth or apparent security can protect one from the consequences of defying Allah's commandments.