فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ 30
Translations
Then they approached one another, blaming each other.
Transliteration
Fa-aqbala ba'duhum 'ala ba'din yatalaawamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the people of the garden began to blame and reproach one another after their crops were destroyed as a punishment from Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this mutual recrimination reflects their regret and internal discord, as they turned against each other instead of repenting to Allah. The verse illustrates how those who forget Allah's rights and rely solely on material wealth ultimately face division and blame among themselves.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the story of the two gardeners (Surah Al-Qalam 68:17-33), a parable revealed in Mecca addressing the polytheists of Quraysh. The context shows how the owner of the garden boasted about his wealth without acknowledging Allah's blessing, and when his garden was destroyed overnight, he and his companion could only blame each other rather than recognize divine justice. This serves as a warning against arrogance and forgetfulness of Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari). This contrasts with the blaming attitude shown in the ayah, emphasizing that believers should support rather than reproach one another.
Themes
Key Lesson
When we lose sight of Allah's role in our blessings and succumb to pride, we become vulnerable to internal conflict and mutual blame rather than unity and repentance. This ayah reminds us to always attribute our success to Allah and maintain humility, which protects both our faith and our relationships.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَآ أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
And We have already destroyed your kinds, so is there any who will remember?
مَآ ءَامَنَتْ قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَآ ۖ أَفَهُمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Not a [single] city which We destroyed believed before them, so will they believe?
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ وَأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَا خَلَـٰقَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا يَنظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allāh and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allāh will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment.
وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُۥٓ ۗ أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And if We hold back from them the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say, "What detains it?" Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.