سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 52
فَتِلْكَ بُيُوتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةًۢ بِمَا ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿52﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
These are their houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. Verily, in this is indeed an Ayâh (a lesson or a sign) for people who know.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَتِلْكَ
fatil'ka
So, these
بُيُوتُهُمْ
buyūtuhum
(are) their houses
خَاوِيَةًۢ
khāwiyatan
ruined
بِمَا
bimā
because
ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۗ
ẓalamū
they wronged
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِى
fī
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لَـَٔايَةًۭ
laāyatan
surely, is a sign
لِّقَوْمٍۢ
liqawmin
for a people
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
who know
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 53,52) ➊ {فَتِلْكَ بُيُوْتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةًۢ:’’ خَاوِيَةًۢ ‘‘} also means "falling," as in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:259): «{وَ هِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلٰى عُرُوْشِهَا}» and it also means "empty," as in: {’’أَرْضٌ خَاوِيَةٌ أَيْ خَالِيَةٌ۔‘‘} (Qamus). When the people of Makkah would travel to Syria, they would see the ruins of the dwellings of Thamud in the valley of Al-Qura along the way; magnificent buildings were leveled to the ground, and there was no sign of habitation.
➋ { اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَّعْلَمُوْنَ …:} means that for the ignorant, there is no lesson in these deserted houses and ruins; in their view, this earthquake had nothing to do with Salih (peace be upon him) and his she-camel, or with the disbelief, polytheism, or rebellion of that people; such things just happen in the world. (See Al-A'raf: 94, 95) It is only those with knowledge who know that whatever happens in the world is under the command of a Lord of perfect wisdom and power. When He wills, He gives the punishment for deviation and oppression even in this world, so when they pass by such towns that were destroyed by the divine punishment, they take a lesson from them and, fearing Allah's grasp, repent and seek forgiveness.
➋ { اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَّعْلَمُوْنَ …:} means that for the ignorant, there is no lesson in these deserted houses and ruins; in their view, this earthquake had nothing to do with Salih (peace be upon him) and his she-camel, or with the disbelief, polytheism, or rebellion of that people; such things just happen in the world. (See Al-A'raf: 94, 95) It is only those with knowledge who know that whatever happens in the world is under the command of a Lord of perfect wisdom and power. When He wills, He gives the punishment for deviation and oppression even in this world, so when they pass by such towns that were destroyed by the divine punishment, they take a lesson from them and, fearing Allah's grasp, repent and seek forgiveness.
