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
فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنظَرِينَ
And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا وَمَا لَيْسَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۗ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ
And they worship besides Allāh that for which He has not sent down authority and that of which they have no knowledge. And there will not be for the wrongdoers any helper.
أَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَـٰكِنِهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلنُّهَىٰ
Then, has it not become clear to them how many generations We destroyed before them as they walk among their dwellings? Indeed in that are signs for those of intelligence.
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ
And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allāh - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allāh's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."