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66. " And when Our Decree came(to pass), We saved Salih and those who believed with him by a Mercy from Us, and(delivered them)from the ignominy of that day. Verily, your Lord is the All- strong, the All- mighty. "

Commentary

The Arabic term/ xizy/, applied in this holy verse, means a kind of defect of deformity, the appearance of which causes man embarrassment and loss of prestige.

Natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods or dangerous epidemics may happen to both to the faithful as well as to idol worshippers, just like carelessness, which may be seen in one man, but the effects of which can be felt by all. However, when the issue in question is the Divine punishment, the faithful are secure and safe unless they have merited punishment owing to their lack of action, their condescension to oppression, or their ceasing to dissuade others from what has been forbidden. The verse says:

" And when Our Decree came(to pass), We saved Salih and those who believed with him by a Mercy from Us, and(delivered them)from the ignominy of that day. Verily, your Lord is the All- strong, the All- mighty. "

67. " And the(mighty)Blast overtook those who were unjust, so they became motionless corpses in their abodes. "

68. " As if they had never dwelt there. Behold! Verily Thamoud rejected their Lord. Behold! away with Thamoud! "

Commentary

The Arabic term,/ ja imin/ is derived from/ ja ama/ which means sitting on one's knees or falling on face, like the state in which one has received an electric shock which renders one immobile, making that person lose the power to escape.

The Qur'anic term/ yaqnau/ is derived from/ qiniy/ which means staying in one place.

The record of these obstinate and oppressive people of Thamoud comes to a close in this verse.

S alih(a.s.) is one of the Arab prophets, and the tribe of Thamoud is an ancient tribe belonging to prehistoric period, which resided in Wadi- al- Qura, located between Medina and Damascus. They were a nation of farmers and used to engage in horticulture. The name of Salih has been mentioned in the Books of the Divine prophets.

The annihilation of the people of Salih by the mighty blast has been likened to and resembles that of the supersonic jets of today which break the sound barrier when their speed exceeds that of sound. The terrifying sound caused, shatters glass windows, can cause abortions in pregnant women, and hasten heart attacks. As a result of the mighty blast, the Thamoud people also were annihilated. The verse says:

" And the(mighty)Blast overtook those who were unjust, so they became motionless corpses in their abodes. ..."

The end of time will also be associated with a Divine mighty blast which will exterminate everything. Sura Yasin, No. 36, verse 49 says: "They will not have to wait for anything but a single Blast: it will seize them while they are yet disputing(among themselves). " Again, Sura Yasin, No. 36, verses 29, 32, say: "It was naught but a single(mighty )Blast, and behold! They were(like ashes)quenched and silent. " "And all of them shall surely be brought before Us. " The raising up of the dead on the Day of Resurrection will also be made manifest in the same way.

However, the Divine punishment inflicted upon the oppressors takes a similar course as a result of their injustice and cruelty. It must be noted that Allah's retributions are not given only in the Hereafter, but injustice and cruelty will be rewarded even in this very world, too. The verse says:

"... As if they had never dwelt there. Behold! Verily Thamoud rejected their Lord. Behold! away with Thamoud! "

Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah Hud" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"