سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 78
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ ﴿78﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So the earthquake seized them, and they lay (dead), prostrate in their homes.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ
fa-akhadhathumu
So seized them
ٱلرَّجْفَةُ
l-rajfatu
the earthquake
فَأَصْبَحُوا۟
fa-aṣbaḥū
then they became
فِى
fī
in
دَارِهِمْ
dārihim
their homes
جَـٰثِمِينَ
jāthimīna
fallen prone
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 78) ➊ {فَاَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ …… :} In Surah Hud (65, 66), it is mentioned that when Salih (peace be upon him) saw that they had hamstrung the she-camel, he gave them a respite of three days. When this respite ended, the punishment descended upon them, and Allah Almighty saved Salih (peace be upon him) and his believing companions; all the rest of the people were destroyed. In the commentaries and hadiths, it is mentioned that only one person among them, Abu Righal, was residing in the Haram during those days; he remained safe from the punishment, but when he left the Haram and set out towards Ta’if, he too was destroyed and buried on the way. The Commander of the Faithful, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), mentioned that those passing by would stone his grave. [ ابن حبان : ۴۶۳ ] It is narrated from Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty destroyed all of them under the sky, except for one person who was in the Haram.” It was asked: “Who was he?” He replied: “He was Abu Righal, but as soon as he left the Haram, the punishment seized him as well.” [ مستدرک حاکم : 320/2، ح : ۳۲۴۸۔ أحمد : 296/3، ح : ۱۴۱۶۰ ] Shu‘ayb Arna’ut and his colleagues have graded this hadith as strong. Here, {’’ الرَّجْفَةُ ‘‘} (earthquake) is mentioned, and in Surah Hud (67), { ’’ الصَّيْحَةُ ‘‘} (cry) is mentioned. This shows that two types of punishment came upon this people: from above, the Saihah (cry), and from below, the earthquake; or that terrifying sound, i.e., the cry, was from the earthquake itself, as it has been observed that with an earthquake, there is also a terrifying sound.
➋ { ’’ جٰثِمِيْنَ ‘‘ } This is an active participle from {’’جُثُوْمٌ ‘‘}; it is used for humans and birds in the same sense as {’’ بُرُوْكٌ ‘‘} is used for camels, meaning those who fall on their chests or cannot move from their place. That is, they were fallen on their knees, face down, with no movement left in them. (Tantawi)
➋ { ’’ جٰثِمِيْنَ ‘‘ } This is an active participle from {’’جُثُوْمٌ ‘‘}; it is used for humans and birds in the same sense as {’’ بُرُوْكٌ ‘‘} is used for camels, meaning those who fall on their chests or cannot move from their place. That is, they were fallen on their knees, face down, with no movement left in them. (Tantawi)
