سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 48
وَكَانَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ ﴿48﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And were
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْمَدِينَةِ
l-madīnati
the city
تِسْعَةُ
tis'ʿatu
nine
رَهْطٍۢ
rahṭin
family heads
يُفْسِدُونَ
yuf'sidūna
they were spreading corruption
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
وَلَا
walā
and not
يُصْلِحُونَ
yuṣ'liḥūna
reforming
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.
48. And in the city there were nine leaders [49] who spread corruption in the land and did not reform.
[49]
The Nine Gang Leaders of the People of Thamud:
Rahṭ means a small group of people from the same family, numbering less than ten, and with no women among them. Also, the leader or chief of such a group is called Rahṭ. (Mufradat) This word is generally used in a broader sense. When Rahṭ is attributed to a number, it refers to individuals. (Munjid) That is why we have translated Rahṭ as "gang leader," meaning the leader of a small, mischievous, and immoral group. The well-known settlement of the people of Thamud was called Hijr, and it was also known as Umm al-Qura. It lies on the route from Makkah to Syria. In this city, there were nine such gang leaders or thug-type chieftains, and among them, the most prominent was Qidar, who was the most wretched and wicked. It was Qidar who hamstrung Allah's she-camel, and the remaining eight leaders were his helpers and accomplices.
[49]
The Nine Gang Leaders of the People of Thamud:
Rahṭ means a small group of people from the same family, numbering less than ten, and with no women among them. Also, the leader or chief of such a group is called Rahṭ. (Mufradat) This word is generally used in a broader sense. When Rahṭ is attributed to a number, it refers to individuals. (Munjid) That is why we have translated Rahṭ as "gang leader," meaning the leader of a small, mischievous, and immoral group. The well-known settlement of the people of Thamud was called Hijr, and it was also known as Umm al-Qura. It lies on the route from Makkah to Syria. In this city, there were nine such gang leaders or thug-type chieftains, and among them, the most prominent was Qidar, who was the most wretched and wicked. It was Qidar who hamstrung Allah's she-camel, and the remaining eight leaders were his helpers and accomplices.
