وَإِذَا ٱلْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ 4
Translations
And when full-term she-camels are neglected
Transliteration
Wa-idha al-'isharu 'uttilat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the abandonment and negligence of pregnant camels (al-'ishar), which were highly valued in Arab society, during the Day of Judgment when all worldly concerns become meaningless. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this serves as a metaphor for how people will abandon their most precious possessions and concerns when faced with the reality of the afterlife, emphasizing the complete upheaval of all worldly values on the Day of Resurrection.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Takwir, a Meccan chapter describing the cosmic events and signs of the Day of Judgment. The surah uses vivid imagery familiar to the Quraysh—such as camels and celestial phenomena—to make the reality of the afterlife tangible and compelling to the Arabian audience, preparing them for divine accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in Sahih Bukhari: 'The best of your wealth is a horse and the best of your garments is wool,' indicating the high value placed on livestock in Islamic tradition, which contextualizes why camels are mentioned as symbols of worldly attachment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that all material possessions and worldly concerns, no matter how valuable or cherished, will become utterly insignificant in the face of divine reality; we should therefore prioritize spiritual preparation and righteous deeds over attachment to material accumulation.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, Allāh [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.
ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِرَبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ مَا لَكُم مِّن مَّلْجَإٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّكِيرٍ
Respond to your Lord before a Day comes from Allāh of which there is no repelling. No refuge will you have that Day, nor for you will there be any denial.
وَأُتْبِعُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ عَادًا كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّعَادٍ قَوْمِ هُودٍ
And they were [therefore] followed in this world with a curse and [as well] on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, ʿAad denied their Lord; then away with ʿAad, the people of Hūd.
قَالُوا۟ تِلْكَ إِذًا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةٌ
They say, "That, then, would be a losing return."