Sabbath Transgression
تَجَاوُزُ السَّبْت
The Sabbath Transgression (تَجَاوُزُ السَّبْت) marks a pivotal event in the narrative of the Children of Israel, frequently recalled in the Quran as a profound lesson in obedience and trust in divine decrees. God had specifically enjoined upon them the observance of the Sabbath, a day dedicated to rest and spiritual reflection, abstaining from worldly labor. However, a particular community residing by the sea faced a unique trial: their fish would appear in abundance only on the Sabbath day [7:163]. Despite the clear divine injunction, some individuals devised cunning ways to circumvent the command, effectively "fishing" on the holy day and thus transgressing the solemn covenant they had made [4:154]. This act of deliberate disobedience, driven by worldly desire over spiritual commitment, led to a severe divine consequence. The Quran recounts that [We said to them, "Be apes, despised"], a transformation serving as a stark punishment. More broadly, this event was intended as [a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allah]. For believers, the story of the Sabbath Transgression serves as a timeless reminder of the sanctity of divine commands and the profound importance of sincerity in fulfilling one's covenant with God.
Quran 4 verses
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعْتَدَوْا۟ مِنكُمْ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ
Wa laqad 'alimtumul lazeena'-tadaw minkum fis Sabti faqulnaa lahum koonoo qiradatan khaasi'een
And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the sabbath, and We said to them, "Be apes, despised."
اور تم ان لوگوں کو خوب جانتے ہوں، جو تم میں سے ہفتے کے دن (مچھلی کا شکار کرنے) میں حد سے تجاوز کر گئے تھے، تو ہم نے ان سے کہا کہ ذلیل وخوار بندر ہو جاؤ
Commentary
فَجَعَلْنَٰهَا نَكَٰلًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
Faja'alnaahaa nakaalal limaa baina yadihaa wa maa khalfahaa wa maw'izatal lilmuttaqeen
And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allah.
اور اس قصے کو اس وقت کے لوگوں کے لیے اور جو ان کے بعد آنے والے تھے عبرت اور پرہیز گاروں کے لیے نصیحت بنا دیا
Commentary
وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ ٱلطُّورَ بِمِيثَٰقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا۟ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَٰقًا غَلِيظًا
Wa rafa'naa fawqahumut Toora bimeesaaqihim wa qulnaa lahumud khulul baaba sujjadanw wa qulnaa lahum laa ta'doo fis Sabti wa akhaznaa minhum meesaaqan ghaleezaa
And We raised over them the mount for [refusal of] their covenant; and We said to them, "Enter the gate bowing humbly", and We said to them, "Do not transgress on the sabbath", and We took from them a solemn covenant.
اور ان سے عہد لینے کو ہم نے ان پر کوہ طور اٹھا کھڑا کیا اور انہیں حکم دیا کہ (شہر کے) دروازے میں (داخل ہونا تو) سجدہ کرتے ہوئے داخل ہونا اور یہ بھی حکم دیا کہ ہفتے کے دن (مچھلیاں پکڑنے) میں تجاویز (یعنی حکم کے خلاف) نہ کرنا۔ غرض ہم نے ان سے مضبوط عہد لیا
Commentary
وَسْـَٔلْهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ
Was'alhum 'anil qaryatil latee kaanat haadiratal bahri iz ya'doona fis Sabt iz taateehim heetaanuhum yawma Sabtihim shurra'anw wa yawma laa yasbitoona laa taateehim; kazaalika nabloohum bimaa kaanoo yafsuqoon
And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.
اور ان سے اس گاؤں کا حال تو پوچھو جب لب دریا واقع تھا۔ جب یہ لوگ ہفتے کے دن کے بارے میں حد سے تجاوز کرنے لگے (یعنی) اس وقت کہ ان کے ہفتے کے دن مچھلیاں ان کے سامنے پانی کے اوپر آتیں اور جب ہفتے کا دن نہ ہوتا تو نہ آتیں۔ اسی طرح ہم ان لوگوں کو ان کی نافرمانیوں کے سبب آزمائش میں ڈالنے لگے
Commentary
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