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Destruction of the Companions of the Thicket

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Destruction of the Companions of the Thicket

هَلَاكُ أَصْحَابِ الْأَيْكَةِ

The Destruction of the Companions of the Thicket (Ahl al-Aykah) serves as a poignant reminder in the Quran of the ultimate consequences of rejecting divine guidance and engaging in widespread corruption. These were the people to whom the Prophet Shu'ayb was sent, calling them to worship God alone and to uphold justice, particularly in their commercial dealings, where they were known for short-changing others. Despite Shu'ayb's earnest pleas, [they denied him] and persisted in their wrongdoing, for [the companions of the thicket were [also] wrongdoers]. As a result, [the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them], a terrible day of divine retribution that swept them away entirely. This narrative, alongside other accounts of defiant nations, underscores a profound lesson: that accountability for one's actions and the rejection of God's messengers will inevitably lead to a severe reckoning. Their story remains a vivid caution for humanity, emphasizing the importance of honesty, fair dealing, and heeding the messages of truth, lest [My threat was justly fulfilled] upon them.

Quran 5 verses

وَإِن كَانَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ لَظَٰلِمِينَ

Wa in kaana Ashaabul Aikati lazaalimeen

And the companions of the thicket were [also] wrongdoers.

اور بَن کے رہنے والے (یعنی قوم شعیب کے لوگ) بھی گنہگار تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Aikah means a dense forest. There are other views too. Some commentators say that there was a dense forest near Madyan, therefore, Aikah is actually the title of the people of Madyan. Others have said that the people of Aikah and the people of Madyan were two different people. It was afte...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And certainly in has been softened in other words understand it as being innahu the dwellers in the wood a huddle of trees near Midian — these were the people of the prophet Shu‘ayb — were evildoers for denying Shu‘ayb.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destruction of the Dwellers of Al-Aykah, the People of Shu`ayb The Dwellers of Al-Aykah, were the people of Shu`ayb. Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah and others said that Al-Aykah refers to intertwined trees. Their evildoing included associating partners with Allah (Shirk), banditry and cheating in weights an...

فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمَا لَبِإِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ

Fantaqamnaa minhum wa innahumaa labi imaamim mubeen

So We took retribution from them, and indeed, both [cities] are on a clear highway.

تو ہم نے ان سے بھی بدلہ لیا۔ اور یہ دونوں شہر کھلے رستے پر (موجود) ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Aikah means a dense forest. There are other views too. Some commentators say that there was a dense forest near Madyan, therefore, Aikah is actually the title of the people of Madyan. Others have said that the people of Aikah and the people of Madyan were two different people. It was afte...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So We exacted retribution from them by destroying them through extreme heat. And certainly both of them that is the cities of the people of Lot and those of the dwellers in the wood are upon a open road plain to see so will you not take heed from their example O people of Mecca?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destruction of the Dwellers of Al-Aykah, the People of Shu`ayb The Dwellers of Al-Aykah, were the people of Shu`ayb. Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah and others said that Al-Aykah refers to intertwined trees. Their evildoing included associating partners with Allah (Shirk), banditry and cheating in weights an...

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ ٱلظُّلَّةِ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

Fakazzaboohu fa akhazahum 'azaabu Yawmiz zullah; innahoo kaana 'azaaba Yawmin 'Azeem

And they denied him, so the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of a terrible day.

تو ان لوگوں نے ان کو جھٹلایا، پس سائبان کے عذاب نے ان کو آ پکڑا۔ بےشک وہ بڑے (سخت) دن کا عذاب تھا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ so they were seized by the torment of the Day of Canopy. - 26:189 عَذَابُ يَوْمِ الظُّلَّةِ (the Torment of the Canopy), mentioned in this verse refers to an incident, which is this: Allah Ta’ ala sent down such an extreme heat on a people that they could not f...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: But they denied him so they were seized by the chastisement of the day of the shade al-zulla — a cloud which gave them shade when they suffered a bout of extreme heat but which then rained down fire on them and they were incinerated. Assuredly it was the chastisement of a tremendous day.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Response of Shu`ayb's People, Their Disbelief in Him and the coming of the Punishment upon Them Allah tells us how his people responded, and how it was like the response of Thamud to their Messenger -- for they were of like mind -- when they said: إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ (You are onl...

وَثَمُودُ وَقَوْمُ لُوطٍ وَأَصْحَٰبُ لْـَٔيْكَةِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ

Wa Samoodu wa qawmu Lootinw wa Ashaabul 'Aykah; ulaaa'ikal Ahzaab

And [the tribe of] Thamud and the people of Lot and the companions of the thicket. Those are the companies.

اور ثمود اور لوط کی قوم اور بن کے رہنے والے بھی۔ یہی وہ گروہ ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: أُولَـٰئِكَ الْأَحْزَابُ (They were the [ strong ] groups. - 38:13) One explanation of this statement is that it is the description of the word 'groups' in verse 11. In other words, 'these are the groups or Confederates that have been pointed out in this verse.' Maulana Thanavi (رح) has gone by this...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and Thamūd and the people of Lot and the dwellers in the wood a small forest namely the people of Shu‘ayb peace be upon him — those were the factions.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): A Reminder of Those Who were destroyed among the Previous Nations Allah tells us about those past nations and the punishment and vengeance that struck them for their going against the Messengers and disbelieving in the Prophets, peace be upon them. We have already seen their stories in detail in num...

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ

Wa Ashaabul Aykati wa qawmu Tubba'; kullun kazzabar Rusula fahaqqa wa'eed

And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubba'. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.

اور بن کے رہنے والے اور تُبّع کی قوم۔ (غرض) ان سب نے پیغمبروں کو جھٹلایا تو ہمارا وعید (عذاب) بھی پورا ہو کر رہا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Dwellers of Aikah Aikah means a dense bush; wood; forest; jungle, These people resided in such a place. Holy Prophet Shu'aib (علیہ السلام) was sent to this nation. They disobeyed him and were destroyed by Divine punishment. People of Tubba' Tubba' was the title of the king of Yemen. The necessary ex...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and the dwellers in the wood a small forest — the people of Shu‘ayb — and the people of Tubba‘ — a king who ruled in Yemen; he had submitted to God and had summoned his people to the same submission to God but they denied him. Each of those mentioned denied the messengers as your tribe Quraysh have ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Reminding the Quraysh of the Destruction of earlier Disbelieving Nations Allah the Exalted warns the disbelievers of Quraysh and reminds them of the punishment and painful torment that He sent in this life on their likes, who disbelieved before them. For instance, Allah the Exalted punished the peop...

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