Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Story of Salih and the People of Thamud Allah, the Exalted, says, و (And) This is an introduction to that which is implied, "Verily, We sent." إِلَى ثَمُودَ (to Thamud) They were a group of people who were living in cities carved from the rocks, between Tabuk and Al-Madinah (in Arabia). They lived after the people of `Ad, so Allah sent to them, أَخَاهُمْ صَـلِحاً (their brother Salih.) He (Salih) commanded them to worship Allah alone. He said to them, هُوَ أَنشَأَكُمْ مِّنَ الاٌّرْضِ (He brought you forth from the earth) This means: `He began your creation from it (the earth). From it He created your father, Adam.' وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا (and settled you therein,) This means: `He made you prosperous in the earth. You are settled in it and you treasure it.' فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ (then ask forgiveness) `This is in reference to your previous sins. ' ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ (and turn to Him in repentance.) `This is in reference to the future.' إِنَّ رَبِّى قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ (Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His knowledge), Responsive.) This is similar to Allah's statement, وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ (And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed Near (to them by My knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me.) 2:186

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Conversation between Salih and the People of Thamud Allah, the Exalted, mentions what transpired in the discussion between Salih and his people. Allah informs of their ignorance and obstinacy in their statement, قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَـذَا (You have been among us as a figure of good hope till this!) They were saying in this, "We had hope in your strong intellect before you began saying what you have said." أَتَنْهَانَآ أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءابَاؤُنَا (Do you (now) forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped) "what those who were before us were upon." وَإِنَّنَا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ (But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us.) This alludes to the great amount of doubt that they had. قَالَ يقَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى (He said: "O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord...") `In reference to what He (Allah) has sent me with to you, I am upon conviction and sure evidence.' وَءَاتَـنِى مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَن يَنصُرُنِى مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ (and there has come to me a mercy from Him, who then can help me against Allah, if I were to disobey Him) `and abandon calling you to the truth and the worship of Allah alone. If I did so, you would not be able to bring me any benefit, nor increase me غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرٍ (but in loss.)' This means loss and ruin.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Conversation between Salih and the People of Thamud Allah, the Exalted, mentions what transpired in the discussion between Salih and his people. Allah informs of their ignorance and obstinacy in their statement, قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَـذَا (You have been among us as a figure of good hope till this!) They were saying in this, "We had hope in your strong intellect before you began saying what you have said." أَتَنْهَانَآ أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءابَاؤُنَا (Do you (now) forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped) "what those who were before us were upon." وَإِنَّنَا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ (But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us.) This alludes to the great amount of doubt that they had. قَالَ يقَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى (He said: "O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord...") `In reference to what He (Allah) has sent me with to you, I am upon conviction and sure evidence.' وَءَاتَـنِى مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَن يَنصُرُنِى مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ (and there has come to me a mercy from Him, who then can help me against Allah, if I were to disobey Him) `and abandon calling you to the truth and the worship of Allah alone. If I did so, you would not be able to bring me any benefit, nor increase me غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرٍ (but in loss.)' This means loss and ruin.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Conversation between Salih and the People of Thamud Allah, the Exalted, mentions what transpired in the discussion between Salih and his people. Allah informs of their ignorance and obstinacy in their statement, قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَـذَا (You have been among us as a figure of good hope till this!) They were saying in this, "We had hope in your strong intellect before you began saying what you have said." أَتَنْهَانَآ أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءابَاؤُنَا (Do you (now) forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped) "what those who were before us were upon." وَإِنَّنَا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ (But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us.) This alludes to the great amount of doubt that they had. قَالَ يقَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى (He said: "O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord...") `In reference to what He (Allah) has sent me with to you, I am upon conviction and sure evidence.' وَءَاتَـنِى مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَن يَنصُرُنِى مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ (and there has come to me a mercy from Him, who then can help me against Allah, if I were to disobey Him) `and abandon calling you to the truth and the worship of Allah alone. If I did so, you would not be able to bring me any benefit, nor increase me غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرٍ (but in loss.)' This means loss and ruin.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Conversation between Salih and the People of Thamud Allah, the Exalted, mentions what transpired in the discussion between Salih and his people. Allah informs of their ignorance and obstinacy in their statement, قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَـذَا (You have been among us as a figure of good hope till this!) They were saying in this, "We had hope in your strong intellect before you began saying what you have said." أَتَنْهَانَآ أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ ءابَاؤُنَا (Do you (now) forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped) "what those who were before us were upon." وَإِنَّنَا لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ (But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us.) This alludes to the great amount of doubt that they had. قَالَ يقَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى (He said: "O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear proof from my Lord...") `In reference to what He (Allah) has sent me with to you, I am upon conviction and sure evidence.' وَءَاتَـنِى مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَن يَنصُرُنِى مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ (and there has come to me a mercy from Him, who then can help me against Allah, if I were to disobey Him) `and abandon calling you to the truth and the worship of Allah alone. If I did so, you would not be able to bring me any benefit, nor increase me غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرٍ (but in loss.)' This means loss and ruin.