سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 112
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ ءَامِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَذَٰقَهَا ٱللَّهُ لِبَاسَ ٱلْجُوعِ وَٱلْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿112﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And Allâh puts forward the example of a township (Makkah), that dwelt secure and well-content: its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the Favours of Allâh (with ungratefulness). So Allâh made it taste extreme of hunger (famine) and fear, because of that (evil, i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) which they (its people) used to do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَضَرَبَ
waḍaraba
And Allah sets forth
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
And Allah sets forth
مَثَلًۭا
mathalan
a similitude
قَرْيَةًۭ
qaryatan
(of) a town
كَانَتْ
kānat
(that) was
ءَامِنَةًۭ
āminatan
secure
مُّطْمَئِنَّةًۭ
muṭ'ma-innatan
and content
يَأْتِيهَا
yatīhā
coming to it
رِزْقُهَا
riz'quhā
its provision
رَغَدًۭا
raghadan
(in) abundance
مِّن
min
from
كُلِّ
kulli
every
مَكَانٍۢ
makānin
place
فَكَفَرَتْ
fakafarat
but it denied
بِأَنْعُمِ
bi-anʿumi
(the) Favors of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(the) Favors of Allah
فَأَذَٰقَهَا
fa-adhāqahā
so Allah made it taste
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
so Allah made it taste
لِبَاسَ
libāsa
(the) garb
ٱلْجُوعِ
l-jūʿi
(of) the hunger
وَٱلْخَوْفِ
wal-khawfi
and the fear
بِمَا
bimā
for what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used (to)
يَصْنَعُونَ
yaṣnaʿūna
do
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
112. Allah sets forth the example of a town that was secure and at ease, its provision coming to it abundantly from every direction. But it became ungrateful for Allah’s blessings, so Allah made it taste the consequences of its actions by imposing upon it hunger [116] and fear.
[116]
The Punishment of Famine in Makkah:
Although the name of the town is not mentioned in this verse, the style of expression clearly indicates that the address is towards Makkah itself. The people of Makkah were living a life of peace and tranquility even at a time when looting and bloodshed were rampant throughout Arabia. Due to the custodianship of the Sacred House (Baytullah), people respected and honored the Quraysh of Makkah. No one dared to attack their trade caravans. In fact, any trade caravan to which the Quraysh of Makkah granted a passage permit could also travel in safety and security. Then, due to the supplication of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ, food items and fruits from all around the world would reach Makkah, even though no fruit-bearing trees or grains grew there, nor even grass for the livestock. Then, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent among them and he ﷺ invited them to abandon polytheistic acts and worship Allah alone, they became hostile. They began to harm the Prophet of Islam and his followers and became their mortal enemies. Then Allah Almighty took away His blessings from them and imposed upon them the punishment of famine, and this famine lasted for seven years. Nothing would come from outside for them to eat. Their condition became such that they were forced to eat the skins and bones of dead animals, and their physical weakness and the intensity of hunger reached such a state that if they looked up to the sky, they saw nothing but smoke, even though the sky was completely clear. Due to hunger, some people died, and those who remained were constantly haunted by the fear that if this situation continued for some time, it would be difficult for them to survive. Thus, this punishment was not only of hunger, but also the fear of dying from hunger was imposed upon them.
[116]
The Punishment of Famine in Makkah:
Although the name of the town is not mentioned in this verse, the style of expression clearly indicates that the address is towards Makkah itself. The people of Makkah were living a life of peace and tranquility even at a time when looting and bloodshed were rampant throughout Arabia. Due to the custodianship of the Sacred House (Baytullah), people respected and honored the Quraysh of Makkah. No one dared to attack their trade caravans. In fact, any trade caravan to which the Quraysh of Makkah granted a passage permit could also travel in safety and security. Then, due to the supplication of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ, food items and fruits from all around the world would reach Makkah, even though no fruit-bearing trees or grains grew there, nor even grass for the livestock. Then, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent among them and he ﷺ invited them to abandon polytheistic acts and worship Allah alone, they became hostile. They began to harm the Prophet of Islam and his followers and became their mortal enemies. Then Allah Almighty took away His blessings from them and imposed upon them the punishment of famine, and this famine lasted for seven years. Nothing would come from outside for them to eat. Their condition became such that they were forced to eat the skins and bones of dead animals, and their physical weakness and the intensity of hunger reached such a state that if they looked up to the sky, they saw nothing but smoke, even though the sky was completely clear. Due to hunger, some people died, and those who remained were constantly haunted by the fear that if this situation continued for some time, it would be difficult for them to survive. Thus, this punishment was not only of hunger, but also the fear of dying from hunger was imposed upon them.
