Surah Saba ayat 19 Tafsir Quran 34:19

﴿فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا بَاعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقْنَاهُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ﴾
[ سبأ: 19]

34:19 But [insolently] they said, "Our Lord, lengthen the distance between our journeys," and wronged themselves, so We made them narrations and dispersed them in total dispersion. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

But they said ‘Our Lord make far apart ba‘‘id a variant reading has bā‘id the stages of our travel’ to Syria make these stages through deserts so that they could glory before the poor in riding their camels and bearing their supplies and water and so they behaved wantonly with the graces bestowed on them by God and they wronged their souls through disbelief and so We made them bywords of wrongdoing in this respect for those who came after them and We caused them to disintegrate totally We scattered them all over the lands. Surely in that which is mentioned there are signs lessons for every servant who is steadfast in refraining from acts of disobedience grateful for God’s graces.

But lacking patience and endurance, they, to their detriment, prayed: O Allah, our Creator, would You make our stations distant and far apart and not close together and our commercial travels remote in time and they wronged themselves. In response to this request We made them the talk of the town existing then and of those towns existing thereafter. We tore them apart, while those who remained lived dispersed among the Bedouins in the desert and among other people else-where. This was an act making the patient who is thankful lift to Allah his inward sight

The Trade of Saba' and Their Destruction Allah tells us about the blessings which the people of Saba' enjoyed, and the luxuries and plentiful provision which was theirs in their land, with its secure dwellings and towns which were joined to one another, with many trees, crops and fruits.
When they traveled, they had no need to carry provisions or water with them; wherever they stopped, they would find water and fruits, so they could take their noontime rest in one town, and stay overnight in another, according to their needs on their journey.
Allah says: وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْقُرَى الَّتِى بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا ( And We placed, between them and the towns which We had blessed, ) Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Malik, who narrated it from Zayd bin Aslam, and Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and others -- all said that this means the towns of Syria.
It means they used to travel from Yemen to Syria via towns easy to be seen and connected to one another.
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "`The towns which We had blessed by putting Jerusalem among them." قُرًى ظَـهِرَةً towns easy to be seen, meaning, clear and visible, known to travelers, so they could take their noontime rest in one town and stay overnight in another.
Allah says: وَقَدَّرْنَا فِيهَا السَّيْرَ ( and We made the stages (of journey ) between them easy) meaning, `We made it in a way that met the needs of the travelers.' سِيرُواْ فِيهَا لَيَالِىَ وَأَيَّاماً ءَامِنِينَ ( Travel in them safely both by night and day. ) means, those who travel in them will be safe both by night and by day. فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا بَـعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ( But they said: "Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer," and they wronged themselves; ) They failed to appreciate this blessing, as Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan and others said: "They wanted to travel long distances through empty wilderness where they would need to carry provisions with them and would have to travel through intense heat in a state of fear." فَجَعَلْنَـهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقْنَـهُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ( so We made them as tales (in the land ), and We dispersed them all totally.) means, `We made them something for people to talk about when they converse in the evening, how Allah plotted against them and dispersed them after they had been together living a life of luxury, and they were scattered here and there throughout the land.' So, the Arabs say of a people when they are dispersed, "They have been scattered like Saba'," in all directions. إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ ( Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast, grateful. ) In the punishment which these people suffered, the way in which their blessings and good health were turned into vengeance for their disbelief and sins, is a lesson and an indication for every person who is steadfast in the face of adversity and grateful for blessings.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«عَجِبْتُ مِنْ قَضَاءِ اللهِ تَعَالَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ حَمِدَ رَبَّهُ وَشَكَرَ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ مُصِيبَةٌ حَمِدَ رَبَّهُ وَصَبَرَ، يُؤْجَرُ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتْى فِي اللُّقْمَةِ يَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى فِي امْرَأَتِه»
( I am amazed at what Allah has decreed for the believer; if something good befalls him, He praises his Lord and gives thanks, and if something bad befalls him, he praises his Lord and has patience.
The believer will be rewarded for everything, even the morsel of food which he lifts to his wife's mouth. )" This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah.
There is a corroborating report in the Two Sahihs, where a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, says:
«عَجَبًا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ لَا يَقْضِي اللهُ تَعَالَى لَهُ قَضَاءً إِلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِن»
( How amazing is the affair of the believer! Allah does not decree anything for him but it is good for him.
If something good happens to him, he gives thanks, and that is good for him; if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.
This is not for anyone except the believer. )" It was reported that Qatadah said: إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ g( Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast, grateful. ) It was Mutarrif who used to say: "How blessed is the grateful, patient servant.
If he is given something, he gives thanks, and if he is tested, he bears it with patience."

(34:19) But they said: 'Lord, make the stages of our journeys longer.' *32 They wronged their own selves so We reduced them to bygone tales, and utterly tore them to pieces. *33 Verily there are Signs in this for everyone who is steadfast and thankful. *34

But [insolently] they said, "Our Lord, lengthen meaning

*32) They may not have prayed thus in so many words.
As a matter of fact, whoever is ungrateful to Allah for His blessings, oils Allah, as if to say that he is not worthy of those blessings.
Likewise, the nation which abuses the bounties of AIlah, in fact, prays to Him, as if to say, " Our Lord, withdraw Your blessings from us: we are not worthy of these . " Moreover, the words in the Text also seem to suggest that the Sabaeans perhaps regarded their large population as a calamity for themselves, and they also wanted like the other foolish people that their population should fall.

*33) That is, " The people of Saba were so dispersed in alI directions that their dispersion became proverbial.
Even today when the Arabs have to mention the complate Dispersion of any people they refer to the people of Saba as an example.
When AIlah caused His blessings to be withdrawn from them, the different tribes of the Sabaeans started leaving their homes and migrating an other parts of Arabia.
The Banu Ghassan went to settle in Jordan and Syria, the Aus and Khazraj in Yathrib, and the Khuza`ah in Tihamah near Jeddah.
The Azd left for 'Uman and the Bani Lakhm and Judham and Kindah were also forced to give up their homes for other places.
Thus, the "Sabaeans" ceased to exist as a nation and became a mere legend.
"
*34) In this context the " patient and grateful person " implies every such person ( or persons ) who dces not lose his balance after he has received blessings from Allah, nor exults at prosperity, nor becomes heedless of God Who has blessed him with these.
Such a person can learn great lessons from the history of those people who adopted the way of disobedience after attaining opportunities for progress and prosperity and ultimately met with their doom.

 

The Trade of Saba' and Their Destruction Allah tells us about the blessings which the people of Saba' enjoyed, and the luxuries and plentiful provision which was theirs in their land, with its secure dwellings and towns which were joined to one another, with many trees, crops and fruits.
When they traveled, they had no need to carry provisions or water with them; wherever they stopped, they would find water and fruits, so they could take their noontime rest in one town, and stay overnight in another, according to their needs on their journey.
Allah says: وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْقُرَى الَّتِى بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا ( And We placed, between them and the towns which We had blessed, ) Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Malik, who narrated it from Zayd bin Aslam, and Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and others -- all said that this means the towns of Syria.
It means they used to travel from Yemen to Syria via towns easy to be seen and connected to one another.
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "`The towns which We had blessed by putting Jerusalem among them." قُرًى ظَـهِرَةً towns easy to be seen, meaning, clear and visible, known to travelers, so they could take their noontime rest in one town and stay overnight in another.
Allah says: وَقَدَّرْنَا فِيهَا السَّيْرَ ( and We made the stages (of journey ) between them easy) meaning, `We made it in a way that met the needs of the travelers.' سِيرُواْ فِيهَا لَيَالِىَ وَأَيَّاماً ءَامِنِينَ ( Travel in them safely both by night and day. ) means, those who travel in them will be safe both by night and by day. فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا بَـعِدْ بَيْنَ أَسْفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ( But they said: "Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer," and they wronged themselves; ) They failed to appreciate this blessing, as Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan and others said: "They wanted to travel long distances through empty wilderness where they would need to carry provisions with them and would have to travel through intense heat in a state of fear." فَجَعَلْنَـهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقْنَـهُمْ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ ( so We made them as tales (in the land ), and We dispersed them all totally.) means, `We made them something for people to talk about when they converse in the evening, how Allah plotted against them and dispersed them after they had been together living a life of luxury, and they were scattered here and there throughout the land.' So, the Arabs say of a people when they are dispersed, "They have been scattered like Saba'," in all directions. إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ ( Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast, grateful. ) In the punishment which these people suffered, the way in which their blessings and good health were turned into vengeance for their disbelief and sins, is a lesson and an indication for every person who is steadfast in the face of adversity and grateful for blessings.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «عَجِبْتُ مِنْ قَضَاءِ اللهِ تَعَالَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ حَمِدَ رَبَّهُ وَشَكَرَ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ مُصِيبَةٌ حَمِدَ رَبَّهُ وَصَبَرَ، يُؤْجَرُ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتْى فِي اللُّقْمَةِ يَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى فِي امْرَأَتِه» ( I am amazed at what Allah has decreed for the believer; if something good befalls him, He praises his Lord and gives thanks, and if something bad befalls him, he praises his Lord and has patience.
The believer will be rewarded for everything, even the morsel of food which he lifts to his wife's mouth. )" This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah.
There is a corroborating report in the Two Sahihs, where a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, says: «عَجَبًا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ لَا يَقْضِي اللهُ تَعَالَى لَهُ قَضَاءً إِلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِن» ( How amazing is the affair of the believer! Allah does not decree anything for him but it is good for him.
If something good happens to him, he gives thanks, and that is good for him; if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.
This is not for anyone except the believer. )" It was reported that Qatadah said: إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ g( Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast, grateful. ) It was Mutarrif who used to say: "How blessed is the grateful, patient servant.
If he is given something, he gives thanks, and if he is tested, he bears it with patience."

After this their prophets said to them: Give thanks for the blessings of your Lord lest He takes them away as He took away the blessings he gave you before. ( But they said: Our Lord! ) O our Lord! ( Make the stage between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves ) by means of disbelief and idolatry and failed to give thanks for those bounties, ( therefore We made them bywords (in the land )) for people who came after them ( and scattered them abroad ) in different lands, ( a total scattering ) and We destroyed them completely. ( Lo! Herein ) in what We have done to them ( verily are portents ) signs and lessons ( for each steadfast ) in obedience, ( grateful (heart )) for the bounties of Allah.

But they said: "Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer," and they wronged themselves, so We made them as tales (in the land), and We dispersed them all, totally. Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast grateful (person).

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