فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسَوَّىٰهَا 14
Translations
But they denied him and hamstrung her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them].
Transliteration
Fakaddhabūhu fa'aqarū-hā fadamdama 'alayhim rabbuhum bidhanbihim fasawwāhā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the people of Thamud who rejected the Prophet Salih and killed the she-camel (the miraculous sign) that Allah had sent to them. As a consequence, Allah's punishment overwhelmed them, destroying them completely and leveling their civilization to the ground. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'fadamdama' (He caused to descend upon them) refers to Allah's overwhelming and comprehensive punishment, while 'fasawwāhā' (He made it level) emphasizes the total destruction of their society—both the people and their dwellings were demolished.
Revelation Context
Surah Ash-Shams is a Meccan chapter that emphasizes Allah's power and signs in creation, followed by lessons from past nations. This ayah concludes the account of Thamud within the broader context of the surah's theme of divine justice: those who reject Allah's signs and His messengers face inevitable destruction. The story of Thamud serves as a warning to the Meccan polytheists who similarly rejected Prophet Muhammad.
Related Hadiths
The story of the she-camel of Thamud is referenced in multiple Quranic accounts (Surah Al-A'raf 7:73-79, Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:141-158). While not a direct hadith on this specific ayah, Sunan Ibn Majah and other hadith collections contain reports about the ruins of Thamud, which the Prophet warned his companions against entering due to the divine punishment that befell them.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah demonstrates that rejecting Allah's clear signs and miracles, and committing transgression against them, incurs swift and complete divine punishment that extends to one's entire community and civilization. For believers today, it serves as a powerful reminder to heed the warnings of Allah and His messengers, and to recognize that defying divine guidance leads to inevitable destruction.
Related Ayahs
فَٱلْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ ءَايَةً ۚ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا لَغَـٰفِلُونَ
So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless.
كَدَأْبِ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ ۙ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
[Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them. They disbelieved in the signs of Allāh, so Allāh seized them for their sins. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and severe in penalty.
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Have you considered: whether Allāh should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?"
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [mention] when your Lord declared that He would surely [continue to] send upon them until the Day of Resurrection those who would afflict them with the worst torment. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.