سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 77
فَعَقَرُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰصَـٰلِحُ ٱئْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿77﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So they killed the she-camel and insolently defied the Commandment of their Lord, and said: "O Sâlih! Bring about your threats if you are indeed one of the Messengers (of Allâh)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَعَقَرُوا۟
faʿaqarū
Then they hamstrung
ٱلنَّاقَةَ
l-nāqata
the she-camel
وَعَتَوْا۟
waʿataw
and (were) insolent
عَنْ
ʿan
towards
أَمْرِ
amri
(the) command
رَبِّهِمْ
rabbihim
(of) their Lord
وَقَالُوا۟
waqālū
and they said
يَـٰصَـٰلِحُ
yāṣāliḥu
O Salih
ٱئْتِنَا
i'tinā
Bring us
بِمَا
bimā
what
تَعِدُنَآ
taʿidunā
you promise us
إِن
in
if
كُنتَ
kunta
you are
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
l-mur'salīna
the Messengers
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.
So they hamstrung the she-camel [81] and defied the command of their Lord, and said, "O Salih! Bring us what you threaten us with [82], if you are truly one of the messengers."
[81]
The Fate of Allah’s She-Camel and Her Killer:
The miracle that this nation had demanded became a calamity for them, because the amount of water that all their animals would drink, she alone would consume, and there was already a shortage of water among them. That is why a turn for water was set, and the amount that all the animals would eat, she alone would eat. However, they did not dare to touch this she-camel with evil intent, because they were convinced in their hearts that Salihؑ was a true prophet, and if they mistreated this she-camel, then they would not be spared. But in their hearts, every disbeliever wished that somehow the existence of this she-camel would come to an end. Eventually, after mutual consultation and consensus, one strong and the most wretched man among them took the responsibility upon himself to get rid of the she-camel. Once, during his sermon, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that this person was a powerful, wicked, and strong man of his people who set out on the mission to injure the she-camel. His name was Qidar, and he was among his people as Abu Zam‘ah (who was the uncle of Sayyiduna Zubair bin al-Awwam ؓ) is among you. [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير۔ تفسير سورة والشمس]
This Qidar bin Salif was red-skinned, blue-eyed, of large build, and illegitimate. He himself was immoral and was the leader of the city’s notorious and well-known nine miscreants. He carried out this act of injuring the she-camel at the instigation of his mistress, but he did consult with the other disbelievers and their women about it, and all of them were happy that they would be rid of this she-camel somehow. So, when he cut the tendons of the she-camel, she let out a terrifying scream and ran towards the same mountain from which she had emerged. Her calf also went with its mother, and both of them miraculously disappeared into that mountain.
[82] After getting rid of the she-camel, these people celebrated, and Salihؑ, having been informed by revelation, warned them of the impending punishment and said that now they had only three days’ respite. For three days, they could enjoy themselves, but after that, Allah’s punishment was surely coming upon them. But the people gave no importance to Salihؑ’s warning and considered him a liar, and told him to bring the punishment he was threatening them with now. Secretly, preparations also began for the killing of Sayyiduna Salihؑ. The plan was that all of them would besiege his house together and launch a joint attack to finish him off at once. Later, if anyone asked, they would all swear that they knew nothing about the matter.
[81]
The Fate of Allah’s She-Camel and Her Killer:
The miracle that this nation had demanded became a calamity for them, because the amount of water that all their animals would drink, she alone would consume, and there was already a shortage of water among them. That is why a turn for water was set, and the amount that all the animals would eat, she alone would eat. However, they did not dare to touch this she-camel with evil intent, because they were convinced in their hearts that Salihؑ was a true prophet, and if they mistreated this she-camel, then they would not be spared. But in their hearts, every disbeliever wished that somehow the existence of this she-camel would come to an end. Eventually, after mutual consultation and consensus, one strong and the most wretched man among them took the responsibility upon himself to get rid of the she-camel. Once, during his sermon, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that this person was a powerful, wicked, and strong man of his people who set out on the mission to injure the she-camel. His name was Qidar, and he was among his people as Abu Zam‘ah (who was the uncle of Sayyiduna Zubair bin al-Awwam ؓ) is among you. [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير۔ تفسير سورة والشمس]
This Qidar bin Salif was red-skinned, blue-eyed, of large build, and illegitimate. He himself was immoral and was the leader of the city’s notorious and well-known nine miscreants. He carried out this act of injuring the she-camel at the instigation of his mistress, but he did consult with the other disbelievers and their women about it, and all of them were happy that they would be rid of this she-camel somehow. So, when he cut the tendons of the she-camel, she let out a terrifying scream and ran towards the same mountain from which she had emerged. Her calf also went with its mother, and both of them miraculously disappeared into that mountain.
[82] After getting rid of the she-camel, these people celebrated, and Salihؑ, having been informed by revelation, warned them of the impending punishment and said that now they had only three days’ respite. For three days, they could enjoy themselves, but after that, Allah’s punishment was surely coming upon them. But the people gave no importance to Salihؑ’s warning and considered him a liar, and told him to bring the punishment he was threatening them with now. Secretly, preparations also began for the killing of Sayyiduna Salihؑ. The plan was that all of them would besiege his house together and launch a joint attack to finish him off at once. Later, if anyone asked, they would all swear that they knew nothing about the matter.
