فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ 21
Translations
And they called one another at morning,
Transliteration
Fatanādaw musbihīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the people called out to one another in the morning, discovering the destruction of their garden. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the owners of the garden who had made a conditional oath to harvest it without giving charity to the poor, but woke to find their entire plantation destroyed overnight as divine punishment. The phrase 'musbihīn' (in the morning) emphasizes the swiftness of Allah's retribution and the sudden reversal of their arrogant plans.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the parable of the two gardens in Surah Al-Qalam (verses 17-33), which illustrates the consequences of arrogance, ingratitude, and neglecting the rights of the poor. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when disbelievers mocked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and this parable serves as a warning against such arrogance and a reminder of Allah's ultimate justice.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah Al-Qalam's themes relate to hadiths about charity and gratitude. See Sahih Bukhari (1442) where the Prophet emphasized that 'the best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family,' reflecting the importance of generosity mentioned implicitly in the garden parable.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that arrogance and neglecting the rights of others invite divine punishment, no matter how secure one's worldly possessions may seem. We should remain humble and grateful, recognizing that all blessings come from Allah and carry responsibilities toward those in need.
Related Ayahs
ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ ۚ لَا ظُلْمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
This Day every soul will be recompensed for what it earned. No injustice today! Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.
لَعَلِّىٓ أَعْمَلُ صَـٰلِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ ۚ كَلَّآ ۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآئِلُهَا ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
فَذُوقُوا۟ بِمَا نَسِيتُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَآ إِنَّا نَسِينَـٰكُمْ ۖ وَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْخُلْدِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
So taste [punishment] because you forgot the meeting of this, your Day; indeed, We have [accordingly] forgotten you. And taste the punishment of eternity for what you used to do."