سُوْرَةُ الْقَمَرِ
Surah Al-Qamar (54) — Ayah 31
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةً وَٰحِدَةً فَكَانُوا۟ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلْمُحْتَظِرِ ﴿31﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, We sent against them a single Saihah (torment - awful cry), and they became like the stubble of a fold-builder.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed, We
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
[We] sent
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
upon them
صَيْحَةًۭ
ṣayḥatan
thunderous blast
وَٰحِدَةًۭ
wāḥidatan
single
فَكَانُوا۟
fakānū
and they became
كَهَشِيمِ
kahashīmi
like dry twig fragments
ٱلْمُحْتَظِرِ
l-muḥ'taẓiri
(used by) a fence builder
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 31) ➊ { اِنَّاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةً وَّاحِدَةً:} For its explanation, see the exegesis of Al-A'raf (7:78).
➋ { فَكَانُوْا كَهَشِيْمِ الْمُحْتَظِرِ: ’’هَشَمَ يَهْشِمُ هَشْمًا‘‘ (ض) ’’اَلشَّيءَ‘‘} To break something and crush it into tiny pieces. {’’هَشِيْمٌ‘‘} Trampled, crushed. {’’حَظِيْرَةٌ‘‘} Refers to a fence made around animals with branches, etc. And {’’ الْمُحْتَظِرِ ‘‘} is the one who makes the fence. The leaves and branches of the fence that dry up, break, and fall down, and after coming under the feet of animals, get crushed and trampled and become powder, these are called {’’هَشِيْمٌ‘‘}. The state of the people of Thamud with the punishment has been likened to those leaves and branches that fall from the fence and, coming under the feet of animals, get crushed into powder.
➋ { فَكَانُوْا كَهَشِيْمِ الْمُحْتَظِرِ: ’’هَشَمَ يَهْشِمُ هَشْمًا‘‘ (ض) ’’اَلشَّيءَ‘‘} To break something and crush it into tiny pieces. {’’هَشِيْمٌ‘‘} Trampled, crushed. {’’حَظِيْرَةٌ‘‘} Refers to a fence made around animals with branches, etc. And {’’ الْمُحْتَظِرِ ‘‘} is the one who makes the fence. The leaves and branches of the fence that dry up, break, and fall down, and after coming under the feet of animals, get crushed and trampled and become powder, these are called {’’هَشِيْمٌ‘‘}. The state of the people of Thamud with the punishment has been likened to those leaves and branches that fall from the fence and, coming under the feet of animals, get crushed into powder.
