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 جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتْ مِرْصَادًا
Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait
وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], "What has your Lord said?" They will say, "The truth." And He is the Most High, the Grand.
وَرَءَا ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ ٱلنَّارَ فَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُم مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا۟ عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا
And the criminals will see the Fire and will be certain that they are to fall therein. And they will not find from it a way elsewhere.
وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْمَوْعُودِ
And [by] the promised Day