The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 415
PT. 14 AL-HIJR 78. Surely, in this is a Sign for believers. 1781 b 79. And Wood the People of the too were surely CH. 15 اِنَّ فِي ذلِكَ لَآيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِنْ كَانَ اَصْحَبُ الْأَيْكَةِ لَظْلِمِينَ ) wrongdoers. 1782 "29:45. 26:177; 38:14; 50:15. which again is derived from which means, he stood up or he stood still in his place. means, he remained, continued, stayed, tarried or resided in a place; he remained stationary. They say i. e. he continued in a state or condition. means, that which lasts; lasting; continuing; unceasing (Lane Aqrab). See also 2:4; 4:6 & 5:98. Commentary: & A way is said to be (that still exists) when it continues to be used by wayfarers. The way referred to here i. e. the one connecting Arabia with Syria is actually still in use, thus fulfilling the prophecy implied in the name given to it in the Quran. The way passes along the Dead Sea which is locally known as by the Sea of the Prophet Lot. 1781. Commentary: verse with v. 76 Compare this where the word (those who can read signs) is used in place of (believers). In the former case the story referred to was that of Lot. The bearing it had upon the life and career of the Holy Prophet could be noticed and understood only by men who possessed comparatively greater intelligence and insight. Therefore, the word was used in v. 76. But as the ruined city lay on a public highway, any God-fearing person who passed by that way could, by seeing its ruins, ponder over its history and profit by the lesson it taught. This is why the word (believers) has been used in the present verse. 1782. Important Words: surely is a) ان common Arabic word giving a number of meanings, e. g. , if; not; verily or surely; because; when. It is sometimes redundant (Lane). (the Wood), the plural of which is is derived from the verb (ayika). means, the trees grew thick and formed a wood. means, a collection of numerous tangled or dense trees, particularly (though not necessarily) of the kind called w and (wild berries); a thicket (Aqrab & Lane). Commentary: The word seems to refer to Midian in the vicinity of which there existed tangled and luxuriant trees after which these people or a section thereof were called Midian lay in the Sinai Peninsula, a few miles from the sea. It was originally the name of a tribe who were descended from Abraham through Keturah and who had settled in the locality known after their ancestor 1623