سُوْرَةُ الشُّعَرَآءِ
Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 155
قَالَ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ ﴿155﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He said: "Here is a she-camel: it has a right to drink (water), and you have a right to drink (water) (each) on a day, known.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
هَـٰذِهِۦ
hādhihi
This
نَاقَةٌۭ
nāqatun
(is) a she-camel
لَّهَا
lahā
For her
شِرْبٌۭ
shir'bun
(is a share of) drink
وَلَكُمْ
walakum
and for you
شِرْبُ
shir'bu
(is a share of) drink
يَوْمٍۢ
yawmin
(on) a day
مَّعْلُومٍۢ
maʿlūmin
known
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 156,155) ➊ {قَالَ هٰذِهٖ نَاقَةٌ …:} Allah Almighty has declared this she-camel as {’’آيَةٌ بَيِّنَةٌ‘‘} and {’’آيَةٌ مُبْصِرَةٌ‘‘} (a clear sign and miracle). See Surah Al-A'raf (7:73), Hud (11:64), and Bani Isra'il (17:59). From this, it is understood that it was not an ordinary she-camel, but there must have been something in its birth and appearance due to which it was considered a miracle. In {’’ الصحيح المسبور‘‘}, it is mentioned that Ibn Hibban narrated with an authentic chain from Abu Tufail 'Amir bin Wathilah (may Allah be pleased with him): "Salih (peace be upon him) said to them, 'Go out!' So they went out towards a rock, and that rock trembled as a pregnant she-camel experiences labor pains, then it split open and from its midst the she-camel emerged. Then Salih (peace be upon him) said to them: «{ هٰذِهٖ نَاقَةُ اللّٰهِ لَكُمْ اٰيَةً فَذَرُوْهَا تَاْكُلْ فِيْۤ اَرْضِ اللّٰهِ وَ لَا تَمَسُّوْهَا بِسُوْٓءٍ فَيَاْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيْبٌ } » [ ہود : ۶۴ ] 'This is Allah's she-camel, a great sign for you, so leave her to eat in Allah's land and do not harm her, otherwise a near punishment will seize you.'" Although the chain of this narration is authentic, it is the statement of a Companion.
Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "The prominent chiefs of the people gathered and, pointing to a rock, demanded from Salih (peace be upon him) that he bring forth, before their eyes, a fully grown she-camel from that rock, with such and such characteristics. Salih (peace be upon him) took a firm promise from them that if their request was fulfilled, they would believe and follow him. When they gave their word, Salih (peace be upon him) stood before Allah Almighty to pray that their request be fulfilled. So, the rock to which they had pointed suddenly split open, and from it appeared a she-camel with the characteristics they had demanded. Upon seeing her, some people believed, but most persisted in their disbelief. Upon this, Salih (peace be upon him) said to them: «{ هٰذِهٖ نَاقَةُ اللّٰهِ لَكُمْ اٰيَةً فَذَرُوْهَا تَاْكُلْ فِيْۤ اَرْضِ اللّٰهِ وَ لَا تَمَسُّوْهَا بِسُوْٓءٍ فَيَاْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيْبٌ }» [ ھود : ۶۴ ] 'This is Allah's she-camel, a great sign for you, so leave her to eat in Allah's land and do not harm her, otherwise a near punishment will seize you.'" The commentator Maraghi writes: "It is obligatory for us to accept such narrations as true only when they are established by authentic reports." The meaning is that these narrations are not established from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), however, there is no doubt that it was not an ordinary she-camel but a she-camel possessing miraculous qualities. Regarding this she-camel, an authentic hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has already been mentioned in Musnad Ahmad in reference to Surah Al-A'raf (7:73).
➋ { لَهَا شِرْبٌ وَّ لَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُوْمٍ :} From other verses of the Qur'an, it is understood that the people were not only commanded that every other day this she-camel would drink all the water of your area, but also that she would go wherever she wished in your fields and gardens and eat whatever she wished, and no harm should be done to her. See Surah Al-A'raf (7:73) and Hud (11:64).
Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "The prominent chiefs of the people gathered and, pointing to a rock, demanded from Salih (peace be upon him) that he bring forth, before their eyes, a fully grown she-camel from that rock, with such and such characteristics. Salih (peace be upon him) took a firm promise from them that if their request was fulfilled, they would believe and follow him. When they gave their word, Salih (peace be upon him) stood before Allah Almighty to pray that their request be fulfilled. So, the rock to which they had pointed suddenly split open, and from it appeared a she-camel with the characteristics they had demanded. Upon seeing her, some people believed, but most persisted in their disbelief. Upon this, Salih (peace be upon him) said to them: «{ هٰذِهٖ نَاقَةُ اللّٰهِ لَكُمْ اٰيَةً فَذَرُوْهَا تَاْكُلْ فِيْۤ اَرْضِ اللّٰهِ وَ لَا تَمَسُّوْهَا بِسُوْٓءٍ فَيَاْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيْبٌ }» [ ھود : ۶۴ ] 'This is Allah's she-camel, a great sign for you, so leave her to eat in Allah's land and do not harm her, otherwise a near punishment will seize you.'" The commentator Maraghi writes: "It is obligatory for us to accept such narrations as true only when they are established by authentic reports." The meaning is that these narrations are not established from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), however, there is no doubt that it was not an ordinary she-camel but a she-camel possessing miraculous qualities. Regarding this she-camel, an authentic hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has already been mentioned in Musnad Ahmad in reference to Surah Al-A'raf (7:73).
➋ { لَهَا شِرْبٌ وَّ لَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُوْمٍ :} From other verses of the Qur'an, it is understood that the people were not only commanded that every other day this she-camel would drink all the water of your area, but also that she would go wherever she wished in your fields and gardens and eat whatever she wished, and no harm should be done to her. See Surah Al-A'raf (7:73) and Hud (11:64).
