The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 815
PT. 23 ṢĀD CH. 38 in thy hand a handful of dry وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِعْنَا فَاضْرِبْ بِهِ وَلَا And We said to him, Take. 45 تَحْنَثُ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَهُ صَابِرًا نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ twigs and strike therewith, and إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ break not thy oath. ' Indeed, We found him steadfast. An excellent servant was he. Surely, he was always turning to God. 3413 his family and the people from whom he had become separated. It is also possible that on account of some skin disease from which he suffered, Job's people might have left him. 3413. Important Words: (a handful of dry twigs) is derived from (daghatha). They sayi. e. he collected together the thing. means, he related the tradition in a confused manner; means, also ضغت ضعت. he uttered a cry (dighthun) means, a handful of fresh or dry twigs; whatever is collected together and grasped with the hand; a bundle of rushes; what is confused and without truth or reality (Lane & Aqrab). (break not thy oath) is derived from which means, he said what was not true; he committed a sin or crime; he inclined towards what was means, he broke or حنث في يمينه false retracted his oath. means, a sin or crime. means, he attained to the age when he was punishable for sin or disobedience (Lane & Aqrab). Commentary: While in v. 43 Job was enjoined to urge his riding beast with his foot, in the present verse he is told to strike the beast with a bundle of twigs to make it run fast that he may be out of danger and reach a place of safety soon. The words mean, do not incline to falsehood, i. e. make no compromise with idol worship or polytheistic beliefs and remain steadfast in your belief in the Unity of God. break not thy oath, the verse may also The expression meaning, signify that as Job had become separated from his people, due to negligence on their part, he had vowed that he would punish the guilty for their negligence after he united with them he was told by God joined them. When, however, he was (as the verse shows) not to be severe on them in the hour of joy and thanks-giving and to fulfil his oath in a way which should cause least distress to them. The implied reference in this and the preceding three verses seems to be to the separation of the Holy Prophet from his kith and kin by his migration to Medina, where after a few years not only were his own people united with him but he found many other most sincere and devoted followers—the Anṣār. When even- tually he triumphed over his own people, he forgave them with a large- 2729