The Ant, The Ants — Verse 51

The Plot of the Mischief-Makers and the End of the People of Thamud Allah tells us about the evildoers of Thamud and their leaders who used to call their people to misguidance and disbelief, and to deny Salih. Eventually they killed the she-camel and were about to kill Salih too. They plotted to let him sleep with his family at night, then they would assassinate him and tell his relatives that they knew nothing about what happened to him, and that they were telling the truth because none of them had seen anything. Allah says: وَكَانَ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ (And there were in the city) meaning, in the city of Thamud, تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ (nine Raht,) meaning, nine people, يُفْسِدُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ يُصْلِحُونَ (who made mischief in the land, and would not reform.) They forced their opinions on the people of Thamud, because they were the leaders and chiefs. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "These were the people who killed the she-camel," Meaning, that happened upon their instigation, may Allah curse them. Allah says: فَنَادَوْاْ صَـحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَى فَعَقَرَ (But they called their comrade and he took (a sword) and killed (the she-camel). ) (54:29) إِذِ انبَعَثَ أَشْقَـهَا (When the most wicked man among them went forth (to kill the she-camel).) (91:12) `Abdur-Razzaq said that Yahya bin Rabi`ah As-San`ani told them, "I heard `Ata' -- i.e. Ibn Abi Rabah -- say: وَكَانَ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ يُصْلِحُونَ (And there were in the city nine Raht, who made mischief in the land, and would not reform.) `They used to break silver coins."' They would break off pieces from them, as if they used to trade with them in terms of numbers as opposed to weight, as the Arabs used to do. Imam Malik narrated from Yahya bin Sa`id that Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said: "Cutting gold and silver (coins) is part of spreading corruption on earth." What is meant is that the nature of these evil disbelievers was to spread corruption on earth by every means possible, one of which was that mentioned by these Imams. قَالُواْ تَقَاسَمُواْ بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ (They said: "Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household...") They took a mutual oath, pledging that during the night, whoever met the Allah's Prophet Salih, peace be upon him, he would assassinate him. But Allah planned against them and caused their plot to backfire. Mujahid said, "They took a mutual oath pledging to kill him, but before they could reach him, they and their people were all destroyed." `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Hatim said: "When they killed the she-camel, Salih said to them: تَمَتَّعُواْ فِى دَارِكُمْ ثَلَـثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ذلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍ ("Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a promise (i.e., a threat) that will not be belied.") (11:65). They said: `Salih claims that he will finish with us in three days, but we will finish him and his family before the three days are over.' Salih had a place of worship in a rocky tract in a valley, where he used to pray. So they set out to go to a cave there one night, and said, `When he comes to pray, we will kill him, then we will return. When we have finished him off, we will go to his family and finish them off too.' Then Allah sent down a rock upon them from the mountains round about; they feared that it would crush them, so they ran into the cave and the rock covered the mouth of the cave while they were inside. Their people did not know where they were or what had happened to them. So Allah punished some of them here, and some of them there, and He saved Salih and the people who were with him. Then he recited: وَمَكَرُواْ مَكْراً وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْراً وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَـهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْبُيُوتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةً (So, they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily, We destroyed them and their nation, all together. These are their houses in utter ruin,) i.e., deserted." فَتِلْكَ بُيُوتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةً بِمَا ظَلَمُواْ إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لاّيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ - وَأَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَكَانُواْ يَتَّقُونَ (for they did wrong. Verily, in this is indeed an Ayah for people who know. And We saved those who believed, and had Taqwa of Allah.)

So behold how was the consequence of their plot! For lo! We destroyed them and all their people with Gabriel’s cry or by the angels’ pelting them with stones which they could see even though they could not see them the angels.

فانظر -أيها الرسول- نظرة اعتبار إلى عاقبة غَدْر هؤلاء الرهط بنبيهم صالح؟ أنا أهلكناهم وقومهم أجمعين.

قال العوفي عن ابن عباس: هم الذين عقروا الناقة قالوا حين عقروها لنبيتن صالحا وأهله فنقتله ثم نقول لأولياء صالح ما شهدنا من هذا شيئا وما لنا به من علم فدمرهم الله أجمعين.

ثم بين - سبحانه - الآثار التى ترتبت على مكرهم السىء ، وعلى تدبيره المحكم فقال - تعالى - :( فانظر كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ) أى : فانظر - أيها العاقل - وتأمل واعتبر فيما آل إليه أمر هؤلاء المفسدين ، لقد دمرناهم وأبدناهم ، وأبدنا معهم جميع الذين كفروا بنبينا صالح - عليه السلام .قال بعض العلماء ما ملخصه : قوله - تعالى - : ( أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ) قرأه الجمهور بكسر همزة ( إِنَّا ) على الاستئناف ، وقرأه عاصم وحمزة والكسائى : ( أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ ) بفتح الهمزة وفى إعرا المصدر المنسبك من أن وصلتها أوجه منها : أنه بدل من ( عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ ) ومنها : أنه خبر مبتدأ محذوف ، وتقديره : هى أى : عاقبة مكرهم تدميرنا إياهم . . .

وقوله: (فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: فانظر يا محمد بعين قلبك إلى عاقبة غدر ثمود بنبيهم صالح, كيف كانت؟ وما الذي أورثها اعتداؤهم وطغيانهم وتكذيبهم؟ فإن ذلك سنتنا فيمن كذب رسلنا, وطغى علينا من سائر الخلق, فحذر قومك من قريش, أن ينالهم بتكذيبهم إياك, ما نال ثمود بتكذيبهم صالحا من المثلات.وقوله: (أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ) يقول: إنا دمرنا التسعة الرهط الذين يفسدون في الأرض من قوم صالح وقومهم من ثمود أجمعين, فلم نبق منهم أحدا.واختلفت القرّاء في قراءة قوله " إنا " فقرأ بكسرها عامة قرّاء الحجاز والبصرة على الابتداء, وقرأ ذلك عامة قرّاء الكوفة: (أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ ) بفتح الألف. وإذا فُتحت كان في ( أَنَّا ) وجهان من الإعراب: أحدهما الرفع على ردّها على العاقبة على الاتباع لها, والآخر النصب على الرد على موضع كيف؛ لأنها في موضع نصب إن شئت, وإن شئت على تكرير كان عليها على وجه, فانظر كيف كان عاقبة مكرهم كان عاقبة مكرهم تدميرنا إياهم.قال أبو جعفر: والصواب من القول في ذلك عندي أن يقال: إنهما قراءتان مشهورتان في قرأة الأمصار متقاربتا المعنى, فبأيتهما قرأ القارئ فمصيب.

( فانظر كيف كان عاقبة مكرهم أنا ) قرأ أهل الكوفة " أنا " بفتح الألف ردا على العاقبة ، أي : كانت العاقبة أنا دمرناهم ، وقرأ الآخرون : " إنا " بالكسر على الاستئناف ، ( دمرناهم ) أي : أهلكناهم التسعة . واختلفوا في كيفية هلاكهم ، قال ابن عباس - رضي الله عنهما - : أرسل الله الملائكة تلك الليلة إلى دار صالح يحرسونه ، فأتى التسعة دار صالح شاهرين سيوفهم ، فرمتهم الملائكة بالحجارة من حيث يرون الحجارة ولا يرون الملائكة ، فقتلهم . قال مقاتل : نزلوا في سفح جبل ينظر بعضهم بعضا ليأتوا دار صالح ، فجثم عليهم الجبل فأهلكهم . ( وقومهم أجمعين ) أهلكهم الله بالصيحة .

فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (51) وقرأ الجمهور : { إنا دمرناهم } بكسر الهمزة فتكون الجملة مستأنفة استئنافاً بيانياً لما يثيره الاستفهام في قوله : { كيف كان عاقبة مكرهم } من سؤال عن هذه الكيفية . والتأكيد للاهتمام بالخبر . وقرأه عاصم والكسائي ويعقوب وخلف بفتح الهمزة فيكون المصدر بدلاً من { عاقبة } . والتأكيد أيضاً للاهتمام .وضمير الغيبة في { دمرناهم } للرهط . وعطف قومهم عليهم لموافقة الجزاء للمجزيّ عليه لأنهم مكروا بصالح وأهلِه فدمّرهم الله وقومهم .والتدمير : الإهلاك الشديد ، وتقدم غير مرة منها في سورة الشعراء .والقصة تقدمت . وتقدم إنجاء صالح والذين آمنوا معه وذلك أن الله أوحى إليه أن يخرج ومن معه إلى أرض فلسطين حين أنذر قومه بتمتع ثلاثة أيام .

فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ هل حصل مقصودهم؟ وأدركوا بذلك المكر مطلوبهم أم انتقض عليهم الأمر ولهذا قال أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ أهلكناهم واستأصلنا شأفتهم فجاءتهم صيحة عذاب فأهلكوا عن آخرهم

فانظر كيف كان عاقبة مكرهم أنا دمرناهم وقومهم أجمعين أي بالصيحة التي أهلكتهم . وقد قيل : إن هلاك الكل كان بصيحة جبريل . والأظهر أن التسعة هلكوا بعذاب مفرد ; ثم هلك الباقون بالصيحة والدمدمة . وكان الأعمش والحسن وابن أبي إسحاق وعاصم وحمزة والكسائي يقرءون : ( أنا ) بالفتح ; وقال ابن الأنباري : فعلى هذا المذهب لا يحسن الوقف على عاقبة مكرهم لأن أنا دمرناهم خبر كان . ويجوز أن تجعلها في موضع رفع على الإتباع للعاقبة . ويجوز أن تجعلها في موضع نصب من قول الفراء ، وخفض من قول الكسائي على معنى : بأنا دمرناهم ولأنا دمرناهم . ويجوز أن تجعلها في موضع نصب على الإتباع لموضع ( كيف ) فمن هذه المذاهب لا يحسن [ ص: 202 ] الوقف على ( مكرهم ) . وقرأ ابن كثير ونافع وأبو عمرو : ( إنا دمرناهم ) بكسر الألف على الاستئناف ; فعلى هذا المذهب يحسن الوقف على ( مكرهم ) . قال النحاس : ويجوز أن تنصب ( عاقبة ) على خبر ( كان ) ويكون ( إنا ) في موضع رفع على أنها اسم ( كان ) . ويجوز أن تكون في موضع رفع على إضمار مبتدأ تبيينا للعاقبة ; والتقدير : هي إنا دمرناهم ; قال أبو حاتم : وفي حرف أبي ( أن دمرناهم ) تصديقا لفتحها .

There were nine great chiefs in this community. In order to maintain their high position they made constant efforts to belittle the Truth, and efforts of this type undoubtedly constitute the greatest disturbance on God’s earth. Finally, these chiefs conspired to kill Salih. But, before they could take any steps against Salih according to their secret plan, God seized hold of them. In spite of all their might they were destroyed so utterly that, only dilapidated ruins of their ancient towns, still stand there as a memorial to them. A great lesson is hidden in such historical events. But, this lesson may be learnt only by one who is capable of connecting such events with the eternal laws of God. Conversely, those who attribute such events to physical causes cannot learn any lesson from them.

لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ We shall attack him (Salih علیہ السلام) and his family at night, then will say to his heir, We did not witness the destruction of his family and we are really truthful - 27:49. The plan was that all of them together should attack him and his companions in the darkness of night, and kill them all. And when the claimant of the blood would make the claim, they would say that they did not kill him, and also they did not know who had killed him. In saying so they would have uttered the truth because no one could have known who had killed whom in the darkness of the night. The point to note here is that all the acts of infidelity, disbelief, killing and pillage were being performed by the infidels, rather than those among them who were hardened criminals. Yet they were careful that they don't speak a lie or get blamed for falsehood. This shows how great the sin of falsehood is, that even the perpetrators of heinous crimes avoid it for the sake of their self-respect. The other thing worth noting in this verse is that the one whom these infidels had mentioned as the Wall or heir of Sayyidna Salili (علیہ السلام) was a man of his own family. So, why did they leave him out from being assassinated? The answer to this question is that he might have been the successor from the lineage point of view, but otherwise he could be an infidel and be a party with the infidels. There could have been the consideration that he might claim the compensation for the blood of Sayyidna Salih (علیہ السلام) because of his relationship with him. The other possibility is that he might have been a Muslim but enjoyed a prominent position and hence there could have been the risk of uprising and reprisal among the people. Only Allah knows best.

(Then see) O Muhammad (the nature of the consequence of their plotting) the punishment for their plan to kill Salih, (for lo! We destroyed them) through raining stones on them (and their people, every one) and We destroyed every one of their people.