Surah Al-Qalam — Verse 17

Word Meanings:

• Balawnāhum: We tested them, tried them, or put them to trial.
• Aṣḥāb al-Jannah: The owners of the garden/orchard.
• Aqsamū: They swore an oath.
• Layaṣrimunnahā: They would certainly cut/reap its fruits (harvest).
• Muṣbiḥīn: Entering the morning, i.e., at dawn/early morning.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this verse, Allah Almighty addresses the people of Makkah who rejected the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his message. He tells them that He has tested them with famine and severe drought as a trial and a warning, just as He tested the owners of a beautiful garden in ancient times.

That garden belonged to a righteous man who, upon harvesting its fruits, would always give a portion to the poor and needy. When he passed away, his sons inherited the garden. They were stingy and selfish, unlike their father. They conspired among themselves, swearing oaths to harvest the fruits early in the morning, secretly, so that no poor person or needy soul would come to ask for their share. They deliberately planned to deprive the poor of their rightful due, and they did not say "If Allah wills" (In shaa' Allah), showing their arrogance and self-reliance.

Allah tested them as a consequence of their greed and miserliness, and He destroyed their garden as a punishment. Similarly, Allah tested the people of Makkah with hunger and hardship because of their arrogance and rejection of the truth, as a warning and a lesson for them to reflect and return to the right path.

This story carries a profound lesson for all of humanity: wealth and provisions are a trust from Allah, and withholding the rights of the poor and needy from one's wealth is a grave sin that invites Allah's punishment. The owners of the garden thought they could outsmart Allah by their cunning plans, but Allah's power supersedes all schemes. Their story ends with the complete destruction of their garden, leaving them in utter regret and despair.

A Da'wah Reflection:

Dear reader, this verse is a powerful reminder that Allah is the Provider and the Owner of all wealth. When we are blessed with provisions, He tests us: will we be grateful and generous, or will we be miserly and heedless? The owners of the garden failed the test because they forgot that the poor have a right in their wealth. Their punishment was swift and severe.

Let this be a lesson for us today. Open your heart, give charity sincerely, and never withhold what Allah has commanded you to give. Do not delay your good deeds, and always say "In shaa' Allah" when you intend to do something, for your plans are subject to Allah's will. Remember that what you spend in the way of Allah is never lost—it is stored with Him, and He multiplies it beyond your imagination. Be among those who protect their wealth by purifying it through charity, and you will find peace in this life and great reward in the Hereafter.