سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 22
وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى ٱلْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ ﴿22﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And on them, and on ships you are carried.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَعَلَيْهَا
waʿalayhā
And on them
وَعَلَى
waʿalā
and on
ٱلْفُلْكِ
l-ful'ki
[the] ships
تُحْمَلُونَ
tuḥ'malūna
you are carried
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.
(Ayah 22){وَ عَلَيْهَا وَ عَلَى الْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُوْنَ : ’’ عَلَيْهَا ‘‘} By this is meant camels, which are the ships of the desert. In Arabia, camels were mostly used for riding and carrying loads, and the metaphor of "ships of the land" for camels has been known since ancient times. The poet Dhu al-Rumma says about his she-camel:
{ طُرُوْقًا وَجُلْبُ الرَّحْلِ مَشْدُوْدَةٌ بِهَا ¤ سَفِيْنَةُ بَرٍّ تَحْتَ خَدِّيْ زِمَامُهَا}
"It was night time and the ship of the land was tied with {’’جُلْبُ الرَّحْلِ‘‘} (the wooden frames of the saddle), whose rein was under my cheek." (Adwa' al-Bayan)
In connection with the ships of the land, the blessing of sea ships has also been mentioned. Instead of "when you ride," the phrase "when you are made to ride" means that riding on such huge animals as camels (and elephants) and making them subservient to you is not within your power, but it is Our work to make you ride them and make them obedient to you. If you do not believe, then try to domesticate much smaller animals, such as deer, wolves, foxes, jackals, and leopards, in the same way. Similarly, Our magnificent creation, the sea, in comparison to which you are not even as much as a grain of sand compared to the desert—riding on it and having it carry you on its chest is not within your power. It is We who make you ride in ships and subdue it for you. If you do not believe, then remember those storms whose calamity causes mountain-like ships to sink into its embrace in the blink of an eye.
{ طُرُوْقًا وَجُلْبُ الرَّحْلِ مَشْدُوْدَةٌ بِهَا ¤ سَفِيْنَةُ بَرٍّ تَحْتَ خَدِّيْ زِمَامُهَا}
"It was night time and the ship of the land was tied with {’’جُلْبُ الرَّحْلِ‘‘} (the wooden frames of the saddle), whose rein was under my cheek." (Adwa' al-Bayan)
In connection with the ships of the land, the blessing of sea ships has also been mentioned. Instead of "when you ride," the phrase "when you are made to ride" means that riding on such huge animals as camels (and elephants) and making them subservient to you is not within your power, but it is Our work to make you ride them and make them obedient to you. If you do not believe, then try to domesticate much smaller animals, such as deer, wolves, foxes, jackals, and leopards, in the same way. Similarly, Our magnificent creation, the sea, in comparison to which you are not even as much as a grain of sand compared to the desert—riding on it and having it carry you on its chest is not within your power. It is We who make you ride in ships and subdue it for you. If you do not believe, then remember those storms whose calamity causes mountain-like ships to sink into its embrace in the blink of an eye.
