سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 113
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَهُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ ﴿113﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And verily, there had come unto them a Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) from among themselves, but they denied him, so the torment overtook them while they were Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
جَآءَهُمْ
jāahum
came to them
رَسُولٌۭ
rasūlun
a Messenger
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
from among them
فَكَذَّبُوهُ
fakadhabūhu
but they denied him
فَأَخَذَهُمُ
fa-akhadhahumu
so seized them
ٱلْعَذَابُ
l-ʿadhābu
the punishment
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
ظَـٰلِمُونَ
ẓālimūna
(were) 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.
(Ayah113){وَ لَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُوْلٌ مِّنْهُمْ …:} This was one of the greatest favors among His favors that Allah sent a Messenger to them from among themselves. Most commentators have probably based their interpretation on this word and taken this town to mean Makkah al-Mukarramah, otherwise its specification is not established by any Sahih hadith. It can refer to any town of the previous Messengers and the Messenger sent to them as well. However, Makkah is more appropriately meant here. The mention here of tasting the garment of hunger and fear has been detailed by Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), who stated that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw the people avoiding (faith), he supplicated: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ سَبْعًا كَسَبْعِ يُوْسُفَ ] "O Allah! Impose upon them seven years like the seven years of Yusuf (Joseph, peace be upon him)." So such a famine struck them that it destroyed everything, until they ate leather, carrion, and corpses. The hunger was so severe that if any of them looked towards the sky, he would see smoke. [ بخاری، الاستسقاء، باب دعاء النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : اجعلھا سنین… : ۱۰۰۷ ] On the other hand, due to the constant state of war with the Muslims, the arrival of people from outside also stopped, and the state of fear was such that they were always afraid of attacks by the Muslims both inside and outside Makkah. In any case, Shawkani and many commentators say that these verses do not mention any specific town; rather, by giving the example of a destroyed town, the people of Makkah are warned that if you are ungrateful for Our blessings, especially the sending of a Messenger, then the same will happen to you. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "There are many such cities, but the condition described is that of Makkah." (Mawduh)
