سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 76
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْعَذَابِ فَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمْ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ ﴿76﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We seized them with punishment, but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor did they invoke (Allâh) with submission to Him.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And verily
أَخَذْنَـٰهُم
akhadhnāhum
We seized them
بِٱلْعَذَابِ
bil-ʿadhābi
with the punishment
فَمَا
famā
but not
ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟
is'takānū
they submit
لِرَبِّهِمْ
lirabbihim
to their Lord
وَمَا
wamā
and not
يَتَضَرَّعُونَ
yataḍarraʿūna
they supplicate humbly
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.
76. And We afflicted them with punishment, yet they did not humble themselves before their Lord, nor did they supplicate.
[76]
Famine Upon the Disbelievers of Makkah:
When, in the early days of Islam, the disbelievers of Makkah began to inflict hardships upon the Muslims and the Prophet of Islam, and opposed them to such an extent that life became unbearable for them, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicated to Allah against them and said: "O Allah! Impose upon them the seven years of famine like those of Yusuf (Joseph) ؑ." Thus, his supplication was accepted and the punishment of famine descended upon them. The rains stopped. The import of grain from outside also ceased, and the situation reached such a point that these people were forced to eat carrion, bones, and even blood, yet their hunger was not satiated. People began to die of hunger and became so weak due to starvation that when they looked up towards the sky, they saw smoke. This incident is mentioned in several places in the Quran and is explicitly mentioned in Surah ad-Dukhan. Eventually, Abu Sufyan came to his presence and said: "You always emphasize maintaining ties of kinship, and we are your own kinsmen, yet we are dying of hunger. Pray to Allah for mercy for us." So, he ﷺ supplicated, and Allah showed mercy. The rains began again, grain started coming from outside, and good days returned. Then the disbelievers of Makkah forgot everything and once again began to trouble the Muslims as before.
[76]
Famine Upon the Disbelievers of Makkah:
When, in the early days of Islam, the disbelievers of Makkah began to inflict hardships upon the Muslims and the Prophet of Islam, and opposed them to such an extent that life became unbearable for them, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ supplicated to Allah against them and said: "O Allah! Impose upon them the seven years of famine like those of Yusuf (Joseph) ؑ." Thus, his supplication was accepted and the punishment of famine descended upon them. The rains stopped. The import of grain from outside also ceased, and the situation reached such a point that these people were forced to eat carrion, bones, and even blood, yet their hunger was not satiated. People began to die of hunger and became so weak due to starvation that when they looked up towards the sky, they saw smoke. This incident is mentioned in several places in the Quran and is explicitly mentioned in Surah ad-Dukhan. Eventually, Abu Sufyan came to his presence and said: "You always emphasize maintaining ties of kinship, and we are your own kinsmen, yet we are dying of hunger. Pray to Allah for mercy for us." So, he ﷺ supplicated, and Allah showed mercy. The rains began again, grain started coming from outside, and good days returned. Then the disbelievers of Makkah forgot everything and once again began to trouble the Muslims as before.
