فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَـٰلِحًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْىِ يَوْمِئِذٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ 66
Translations
So when Our command came, We saved Ṣāliḥ and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us, and [saved them] from the disgrace of that day. Indeed, it is your Lord who is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.
Transliteration
Falamma jaa amruna najjna salihan walladhina amanu maahu birahmatin minna wa min khizyi yawmidhin. Inna rabbaka huwa alqawiyyu alaziz.
Tafsir (Explanation)
When Allah's command came to destroy the people of Thamud for rejecting Prophet Salih and killing the she-camel, Allah rescued Salih and those believers with him through His mercy, while they were spared from the disgrace and punishment that befell the disbelievers. The ayah emphasizes Allah's power and might (Al-Qawi Al-Aziz), highlighting that His punishments are executed with perfect justice and wisdom, as explained by Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari who note this destruction came through an earthquake and a thunderbolt.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Salih and the people of Thamud in Surah Hud, which recounts stories of past nations and their prophets. The broader context illustrates the pattern of divine punishment for those who reject Allah's messages and harm His prophets, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers during the Meccan period when this surah was revealed.
Related Hadiths
The story of Salih and the she-camel is referenced in various hadiths; Ibn Majah and Ahmad record traditions about the destruction of Thamud. Additionally, hadith collections discuss how believers are protected from punishment through faith, as in Sahih Muslim's accounts of divine mercy toward the righteous.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that steadfast faith in Allah's message provides protection and deliverance from divine punishment, while also reminding believers that Allah's strength and honor mean His justice is inescapable—the righteous need not fear ultimate harm, but the arrogant who reject truth will face certain consequences.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ لِخَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ يُخَفِّفْ عَنَّا يَوْمًا مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ
And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, "Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment."
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّهُۥ عَلَيْكَ ۖ مِنْهَا قَآئِمٌ وَحَصِيدٌ
That is from the news of the cities, which We relate to you; of them, some are [still] standing and some are [as] a harvest [mowed down].
فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنتَصِرِينَ
And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allāh, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.
أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Then, did they feel secure from the plan of Allāh? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allāh except the losing people.