سُوْرَةُ يٰسٓ

Surah Yaseen (36) — Ayah 29

Yaseen · Meccan · Juz 23 · Page 442

إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَٰحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَـٰمِدُونَ ﴿29﴾
It was but one Saihah (shout) and lo! they (all) were still (silent,dead,destroyed).
إِن in Not
كَانَتْ kānat it was
إِلَّا illā but
صَيْحَةًۭ ṣayḥatan a shout
وَٰحِدَةًۭ wāḥidatan one
فَإِذَا fa-idhā then behold
هُمْ hum They
خَـٰمِدُونَ khāmidūna (were) extinguished

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 29) {اِنْ كَانَتْ اِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَّاحِدَةً فَاِذَا هُمْ خٰمِدُوْنَ:} That is, the angel gave a single cry, which extinguished the flame of life in all of them. Their sudden destruction is likened to the extinguishing of a fire. Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri has said:
{وَ كَالنَّارِ الْحَيَاةُ فَمِنْ رَمَادٍ ¤ أَوَاخِرُهَا وَ أَوَّلُهَا دُخَانٗ}
"Life is like fire, whose end is ashes and whose beginning is smoke."

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

29. 1. It is said that Jibreel ؑ let out a scream, by which all souls departed from the bodies and they became like extinguished fire. As if life is a blazing flame, and death is its extinguishing, turning into a heap of ashes.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

29. It was but a single blast, and suddenly they were extinguished [30].

The Punishment of the Scream upon the People of the Town:

This righteous man was martyred, but as for the messengers, there is no explicit statement regarding what happened to them. However, from the explicit wording of the Quran, a divine principle is understood: whenever Allah sends down His punishment upon a town, He first arranges for the safety of His messengers and the believers from that punishment. And it is clear from this verse that after the rejection of these messengers and the martyrdom of this believing man, punishment befell that nation. This punishment was not such that Allah sent down armies of angels for it, nor was there any need for Allah to send armies for such a minor matter. The matter with this nation was only that a mighty blast occurred, and they could not withstand even its first strike, and wherever they were, they fell down dead right there.