سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَبْعَ لَيَالٍ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومًا فَتَرَى ٱلْقَوْمَ فِيهَا صَرْعَىٰ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ خَاوِيَةٍ 7
Translations
Which He [i.e., Allāh] imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees.
Transliteration
Sakhkhara-ha 'alayhim saba' layālin wa-thamāniyata ayyāmin husooman fatara al-qawma fīhā sarʿā ka-annahum aʿjāzu nakhlin khāwiyah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's punishment of the people of 'Ād through a devastating wind storm that lasted seven nights and eight days consecutively (husooman meaning successive/consecutive). Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the wind was so violent and destructive that it left the disbelievers dead and prostrate on the ground, their bodies resembling hollow, uprooted palm tree trunks—a vivid metaphor emphasizing their complete annihilation and the power of Allah's punishment against those who rejected His signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Haqqah's detailed account of the destruction of previous nations who rejected their prophets. The context describes the fate of 'Ād, the ancient Arab people who rejected Prophet Hūd, serving as a stark warning to the Meccan disbelievers about the consequences of rejecting the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Related Hadiths
The destruction of 'Ād is mentioned in multiple Quranic passages with supporting hadith traditions. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said regarding the wind sent to 'Ād: 'It was sent upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession' (referenced in various tafsir works citing Sahih reports). Al-Tirmidhi and others recorded hadith affirming the historical reality of these destroyed nations.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's punishment against those who persistently reject His message and messengers is inevitable and overwhelming; it serves as both a warning against arrogance and rejection of truth, and an assurance to believers that Allah will ultimately vindicate His religion and protect His faithful servants.