قَالُوا۟ تَقَاسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِۦ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَصَـٰدِقُونَ 49
Translations
They said, "Take a mutual oath by Allāh that we will kill him by night, he and his family. Then we will say to his executor, 'We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed, we are truthful.'"
Transliteration
Qālū taqāsamū billāhi lanubayyitannahu wa-ahlahu thumma lanaqulanna li-waliyyihi mā shahidnā mahlaka ahlihī wa-innā la-sādiqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the plot of the people of Thamud against the Prophet Salih, wherein they conspired by oath to kill him and his family at night, then lie to his guardian (or the people) claiming they did not witness the destruction of his household. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents their deliberate conspiracy and false testimony, demonstrating their rejection of truth and willingness to commit murder and perjury. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this ayah illustrates the depths of human wickedness when hearts are sealed from divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Quranic narrative of Thamud (verses 27:45-53), a Meccan surah addressing the disbelievers of Mecca. The context shows how ancient peoples rejected their prophets; Thamud's rejection of Salih culminated in their conspiracy to murder him, which Allah prevented. This narrative serves as a warning to the Quraysh about the consequences of rejecting divine messengers.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly narrates this specific event, it relates thematically to the general principle found in Sahih Muslim regarding the prohibition of false testimony and conspiracy. The Quran itself is the primary source for details of Thamud's plot, as mentioned in multiple surahs (7:73-79, 11:61-68, 26:141-159).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns against joining in conspiracies and false testimony, no matter how many people participate or swear oaths—truth ultimately prevails through Allah's justice. For modern readers, it emphasizes the spiritual and moral danger of collective wrongdoing and the futility of lies against the divine plan.
Related Ayahs
أَمَّن جَعَلَ ٱلْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَجَعَلَ خِلَـٰلَهَآ أَنْهَـٰرًا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Is He [not best] who made the earth a stable ground and placed within it rivers and made for it firmly set mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier? Is there a deity with Allāh? [No], but most of them do not know.
فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ قِيلَ أَهَـٰكَذَا عَرْشُكِ ۖ قَالَتْ كَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ ۚ وَأُوتِينَا ٱلْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهَا وَكُنَّا مُسْلِمِينَ
So when she arrived, it was said [to her], "Is your throne like this?" She said, "[It is] as though it was it." [Solomon said], "And we were given knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims [in submission to Allāh].
قَالُوا۟ ٱطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ وَبِمَن مَّعَكَ ۚ قَالَ طَـٰٓئِرُكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تُفْتَنُونَ
They said, "We consider you a bad omen, you and those with you." He said, "Your omen [i.e., fate] is with Allāh. Rather, you are a people being tested."
قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Proceed [i.e., travel] through the land and observe how was the end of the criminals."