سُوْرَةُ الْحِجْرِ
Surah Al-Hijr (15) — Ayah 78
وَإِن كَانَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ لَظَـٰلِمِينَ ﴿78﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And the Dwellers in the Wood [i.e. the people of Madyan (Midian) to whom Prophet Shu‘aib (عليه السلام) was sent by Allâh), were also Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِن
wa-in
And were
كَانَ
kāna
And were
أَصْحَـٰبُ
aṣḥābu
(the) companions
ٱلْأَيْكَةِ
l-aykati
(of) the wood
لَظَـٰلِمِينَ
laẓālimīna
surely wrongdoers
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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.
(Ayah78) ➊ {وَ اِنْ كَانَ اَصْحٰبُ الْاَيْكَةِ … :} This {’’ اِنْ ‘‘} was originally {’’إِنَّ ‘‘}, its pronoun is a pronoun of state with {’’هٗ‘‘} omitted, its evidence and reason is the "lam" that has come on { ’’ظَالِمِيْنَ‘‘}, which is the predicate of {’’ كَانَ ‘‘}. {’’اَلْأَيْكُ‘‘} is a generic noun, meaning clusters of trees, whether many or one, just as {’’ تَمْرٌ ‘‘} is a generic noun. The "taa" is for expressing singularity, so the meaning of {’’ الْاَيْكَةِ ‘‘} is one cluster, just as {’’تَمَرْةٌ‘‘} is one date.
➋ Many scholars say that the people of Madyan and the people of the thicket were the same tribe, and several commentators consider them as separate nations. Their wrongdoing was that they were involved in polytheism, used to cheat in weights and measures, and would rob travelers on the road. Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) was sent to both of them so that they would refrain from all these forms of wrongdoing. The details of the people of Madyan are in Surah Hud (84 to 95) and the details of the people of the thicket are in Surah Ash-Shu'ara (176 to 191). According to some, the people of Madyan were the city dwellers of this nation and the people of the thicket were those among them who lived outside in the forest.
➋ Many scholars say that the people of Madyan and the people of the thicket were the same tribe, and several commentators consider them as separate nations. Their wrongdoing was that they were involved in polytheism, used to cheat in weights and measures, and would rob travelers on the road. Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) was sent to both of them so that they would refrain from all these forms of wrongdoing. The details of the people of Madyan are in Surah Hud (84 to 95) and the details of the people of the thicket are in Surah Ash-Shu'ara (176 to 191). According to some, the people of Madyan were the city dwellers of this nation and the people of the thicket were those among them who lived outside in the forest.
