سُوْرَةُ الذَّارِياتِ
Surah Adh-Dhaariyat (51) — Ayah 29
فَأَقْبَلَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ فِى صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ ﴿29﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then his wife came forward with a loud voice: she smote her face, and said: "A barren old woman!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَأَقْبَلَتِ
fa-aqbalati
Then came forward
ٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ
im'ra-atuhu
his wife
فِى
fī
with
صَرَّةٍۢ
ṣarratin
a loud voice
فَصَكَّتْ
faṣakkat
and struck
وَجْهَهَا
wajhahā
her face
وَقَالَتْ
waqālat
and she said
عَجُوزٌ
ʿajūzun
An old woman
عَقِيمٌۭ
ʿaqīmun
barren
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 29) ➊ { فَاَقْبَلَتِ امْرَاَتُهٗ فِيْ صَرَّةٍ …:’’ صَرَّةٍ ‘‘} A cry, scream. {’’صَرَّ يَصُرُّ‘‘ (ن) ’’صَرِيْرُ الْقَلَمِ‘‘} (the sound of a pen) and {’’صَرِيْرُ الْبَابِ‘‘ } (the sound of a door) are also derived from this. In {’’ صَرَّةٍ ‘‘}, the tanween is for magnification: {’’أَيْ صَيْحَةٌ عَظِيْمَةٌ وَ رَنَّةٌ۔‘‘} Ibn Kathir said: By {’’ صَرَّةٍ ‘‘} is meant her saying {’’ يٰوَيْلَتٰۤي ‘‘}, which is mentioned in Surah Hud (72); here, her statement is mentioned briefly. {’’ عَجُوْزٌ عَقِيْمٌ ‘‘ ’’أَيْ أَنَا عَجُوْزٌ عَقِيْمٌ‘‘} That is, upon hearing this glad tiding, considering her age, she came to the angels, overwhelmed with astonishment and joy, screaming involuntarily.
➋ { فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا: ’’صَكَّ يَصُكُّ صَكًّا‘‘} (n) To strike the face forcefully, as women do at times of astonishment. That is, out of astonishment, she struck her face and said that she is old, barren from the age of youth, so how could she possibly bear a child now.
➌ Some people have deduced from this evidence for mourning and chest-beating, but they have not considered whether mourning is done even upon receiving glad tidings!
➋ { فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا: ’’صَكَّ يَصُكُّ صَكًّا‘‘} (n) To strike the face forcefully, as women do at times of astonishment. That is, out of astonishment, she struck her face and said that she is old, barren from the age of youth, so how could she possibly bear a child now.
➌ Some people have deduced from this evidence for mourning and chest-beating, but they have not considered whether mourning is done even upon receiving glad tidings!
