Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 15:78–84
The Rocky Tract (Al-Hijr)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(78) The people of the Wood were also surely wrongdoers. (79) So We took vengeance on them. Both are still there on the highway, plain for all to see. (80) The people of al-Hijr also rejected Our messengers: (81) We gave them Our signs, but they turned away from them. (82) They carved out dwellings in the mountains, and lived in security— (83) the blast overtook them early one morning. (84) All that they had acquired was of no avail to them.
Commentary
(a) The people of the Wood, or al-Aykah, refers to the community of Shu‘ayb. The real name of this community was ‘Banu Madyan’ (the children of Madyan). These people were settled in the area presently known as Tabuk. The people of Hijr refers to the community of Thamud to whom Salih was sent as a prophet. This area was located to the north of Madinah.
The arrogance of the people of al-Aykah not only made them polytheists but also pushed them into committing the worst moral crimes. When, in spite of Shu‘ayb’s admonition, they did not mend their ways, God commanded the earth. Thereafter, the earth which had been a cradle of comfort and luxury for them became a cradle of punishment.
The community of Thamud were experts in the art of stone-carving. They had cut into the hills and had turned them into lovely dwellings. They thought that they had made complete provision for their safety. When they ignored the call of God, He gave a command and their magnificent dwellings turned into magnificent graves.