The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 297
CH. 23 فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ بِالْحَقِّ غُثَاءَ ۚ فَبُعْدًا لِلْقَوْمِ الظَّلِمِينَ فَجَعَلْتُهُم PT. 18 AL-MU'MINÜN 42. "Then punishment overtook them rightfully, and We made them as rubbish. Cursed, then, be the people who do wrong!2540 ثُمَّ انْشَأْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ قُرُوْنَا أَخَرِينَ Then We raised after them. 43 other generations. مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا No people can go ahead of. 44 يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ their appointed time, nor can they remain behind it. 2541 45. Then We sent Messengers one after another. ثُمَّ اَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَا كُلَّمَا جَاءَ أُمَّةً Our رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ فَأَتْبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ بَعْضًا Every time there came to a people their Messenger, they a7:92; 11:68. See 23:32. c15:6. d2:88; 36:31. 2540. Important Words: (punishment) means, a loud cry; punishment, castigation, chastisement; a hostile or predatory incursion by which a tribe is surprised (Lane & Aqrab). See also 11:68. (rubbish) is derived from (ghatha). They say i. e. the valley has in it abundance of rubbish. i. e. the stomach heaved, or became agitated with a tendency to vomit. means, the rubbish or particles of things or refuse and scum and rotten leaves with the scum borne upon the surface of a torrent. The and the refuse of mankind (Lane & Aqrab). Í means, perdition or death; curse or malediction etc. The expression all means, may he be cursed or may God alienate him from good (Lane & Aqrab). See also 11:45. Commentary: The verse points to a lesson to which history of religion generally and the Quran particularly draws attention, viz. that the opponents of God's Prophets always meet with failure and destruction and believers whom they regard as the scum and dregs of humanity succeed in their i. e. his mission and ultimately become the ماله غثاء و عمله هباء وسعيه خفاء Arabs say property is as rubbish borne by a torrent and his work is like motes that are seen in the rays of the sun and his labour is a thing that is unapparent. means, the low and the vile 2211 teachers and leaders of nations. 2541. Commentary: The verse purports to say that no people can thwart their decreed destiny. Rejection of Divine Prophets