Lesson # 938 from the Noble Quran
Story of that Township which was by the sea
Surah ‘A’-RAAF (The Heights) – Chapter – 7)
Stage – 2, Verse – 163 of 206, Section – 21 of
24 (Part - 9)
BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the
Merciful
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And ask them (O Muhammad) of the township that was by the
sea. How they did break the Sabbath, how their big fish came unto them
visibly upon their Sabbath day and on a day when they did not keep Sabbath
came they not unto them. Thus did We try them for they were evil-livers.
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Was-‘alhum ‘anil-qaryatillatii kaanat
haazi-ratal-bahr. ‘Iz ya’-duuna
fis-Sabti ‘iz ta’—tii-him
hiitaanu-hum yawma Sabti-him
shurra-‘anw-wa yaw-ma laa
yas-bituuna, laa ta’-tiihim.
Kazaalika nabluuhum bimaa
kaanuu yafsuquun.
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Lesson
‘Al-qaryatu – (the
township), many commentators have explained that this township was ‘Iilah, which was situated by the shore
of Red Sea between Madian and Tur, and because the sea was near to
them, therefore, these people were accustomed of fish hunting. To which
incident it signifies, was happened during the period of Prophet David (peace
be upon Him). Nowadays that place is called Aqbah
where the township ‘Iilah was
populated.
Haazi-ratal-bahri – (by the
sea), the word haazirah is from hazuur, which means “to be in front, to
be present”. Haazirah means “in front
(of), opposite to, near, adjacent etc.” ‘Al-bahri
aims “the Red Sea”. ‘As-Sabtu – as per Arabic language, it aims
the day of Saturday. This day was prescribed for worship and observed as closed
holiday against dealings and business for the Jews.
Hiitaanu – (the numbers
of fish), this word is plural huut. In
Arabic, it means a fish. Shurra-‘an is plural of shaari’ which is subject from the word shara’. Shara’ means to
appear. Shaari’ is the thing which
appears in abundance and may be seen by everyone openly. A wide road which is
visible to all, is called Shaari’
(highway, public road). Here it aims “the fish used to leap and jump in the
water in abundance in a short while and those were very fat and fresh”.
About stubbornness,
fearlessness and obstinacy of a class from the Children of Israel has been
described in this verse. Residents of ‘Iilah
Township were very refractory and bold in breaking the Divine Law. It was a
special command for the Children of Israel that they should do nothing on the
day of Saturday save worship of God. So, besides other any kind of business or
dealings, the fish hunting was prohibited too for them on Saturday.
The people of ‘Iilah were involved in this trial that
during the days other than Sabbath (Saturday), either the fish did not come in
the sea unto them or if came, that were very less in quantity. But on the day
of Sabbath (Saturday) the sea was full of big fish. It was a test of their
obedience. It is commanded in the verse that Allah Almighty involves the
disobedient people in test and trial in the same way, so that they may be
habituated of obedience and give up obstinacy.
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