سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْقَافِ
Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) — Ayah 24
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًا مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمْطِرُنَا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ مَا ٱسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِۦ ۖ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿24﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Nay, but it is that (torment) which you were asking to be hastened - a wind wherein is a painful torment!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
رَأَوْهُ
ra-awhu
they saw it
عَارِضًۭا
ʿāriḍan
(as) a cloud
مُّسْتَقْبِلَ
mus'taqbila
approaching
أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ
awdiyatihim
their valleys
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they said
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
This
عَارِضٌۭ
ʿāriḍun
(is) a cloud
مُّمْطِرُنَا ۚ
mum'ṭirunā
bringing us rain
بَلْ
bal
Nay
هُوَ
huwa
it
مَا
mā
(is) what
ٱسْتَعْجَلْتُم
is'taʿjaltum
you were asking it to be hastened
بِهِۦ ۖ
bihi
you were asking it to be hastened
رِيحٌۭ
rīḥun
a wind
فِيهَا
fīhā
in it
عَذَابٌ
ʿadhābun
(is) a punishment
أَلِيمٌۭ
alīmun
painful
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.
24. Then when they saw it (the punishment) as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud that will bring us rain." Rather, it is what you sought to hasten—a wind in which is a painful punishment. [37]
[37]
The Punishment Upon the People of ‘Ad Appeared in the Form of a Cloud:
These people had been longing for rain for a long time. There was a period of drought everywhere. When they saw a dark cloud rising and advancing towards their region, they rejoiced with happiness, and many kinds of hopes began to stir within them. They started to expect abundance and prosperity after the rain. Little did they know whether this cloud was a cloud of mercy or whether it was the punishment of Allah, coming upon them in the form of a dark cloud and a storm to destroy them. This storm was extremely swift and intensely cold, which continued to blow upon them for eight days and seven nights without interruption. The lesson we learn from this incident is that one should not rely solely on the outward appearance of things. Rather, one should fear Allah in every situation. Accordingly, Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that whenever the Prophet ﷺ saw a cloud or a storm, concern would be visible on his face. I asked: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when people see clouds, they become happy, thinking that now it will rain. But I notice that when clouds appear, displeasure is visible on your face? The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Aisha! I fear that there might be punishment in it. A people (the ‘Ad) were punished with a storm. When they saw the cloud, they said: This is a cloud that will bring us rain.” [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
[37]
The Punishment Upon the People of ‘Ad Appeared in the Form of a Cloud:
These people had been longing for rain for a long time. There was a period of drought everywhere. When they saw a dark cloud rising and advancing towards their region, they rejoiced with happiness, and many kinds of hopes began to stir within them. They started to expect abundance and prosperity after the rain. Little did they know whether this cloud was a cloud of mercy or whether it was the punishment of Allah, coming upon them in the form of a dark cloud and a storm to destroy them. This storm was extremely swift and intensely cold, which continued to blow upon them for eight days and seven nights without interruption. The lesson we learn from this incident is that one should not rely solely on the outward appearance of things. Rather, one should fear Allah in every situation. Accordingly, Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that whenever the Prophet ﷺ saw a cloud or a storm, concern would be visible on his face. I asked: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when people see clouds, they become happy, thinking that now it will rain. But I notice that when clouds appear, displeasure is visible on your face? The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Aisha! I fear that there might be punishment in it. A people (the ‘Ad) were punished with a storm. When they saw the cloud, they said: This is a cloud that will bring us rain.” [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
