قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ 28
Translations
The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allāh]?'"
Transliteration
Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law la tusabbihun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The most moderate/wisest among them said, 'Did I not tell you: why do you not glorify (Allah)?'—referring to the one among the companions of the garden who had advised them to glorify Allah and seek His permission before harvesting. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this speaker represents the voice of reason among the group, reminding them of their neglect in remembering Allah and their failure to preface their actions with divine praise and supplication, which led to the destruction of their garden mentioned in the preceding verses.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of the Companions of the Garden (Ashab al-Janah) in Surah Al-Qalam, a Meccan surah that addresses the arrogance and heedlessness of the Meccan disbelievers. The story illustrates the consequences of forgetting Allah and failing to seek His blessing, serving as a warning to those who neglect gratitude and remembrance of their Lord.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly cites this specific ayah, Sunan Ibn Majah and Jami' at-Tirmidhi contain hadiths encouraging the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and glorification (tasbih) before embarking on actions, supporting the theme of this ayah's emphasis on remembering Allah in all matters.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that acknowledging Allah's sovereignty and glorifying Him before undertaking any action is essential for success and protection from loss. It reminds believers that true wisdom lies in remembering Allah and that those who heed such reminders demonstrate sound judgment and character.