فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ 37
Translations
But they denied him, so the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.
Transliteration
Fakazzabūhu fa-akhazathumu ar-rajfatu fa-asbahū fī dārihim jāthimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the people of Shu'ayb rejected his message, and Allah seized them with an earthquake (ar-rajfah), leaving them dead and motionless in their homes. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the rajfah (violent earthquake/convulsion) was a severe punishment that destroyed the disbelievers instantly, demonstrating Allah's justice toward those who persistently deny His messengers. The word 'jāthimīn' (lying motionless/dead) emphasizes the finality and completeness of their destruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the story of Prophet Shu'ayb and the people of Madyan in Surah Al-'Ankabut, which is a Meccan surah addressing the Meccan disbelievers by recounting stories of previous nations who rejected their prophets. The broader context warns the Meccans that denial of the message brings inevitable divine punishment, as exemplified by the destruction of Shu'ayb's people.
Related Hadiths
The story of Shu'ayb and his people is referenced in multiple hadith collections regarding the consequences of rejecting prophets. See Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim's accounts of the Quran's narratives about destroyed nations (umam). Al-Tirmidhi also records traditions about the punishment of those who deny messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejection of divine guidance carries severe consequences—both in this life and the next—and serves as a warning against stubborn denial of truth. It demonstrates that Allah's patience with disbelievers is not weakness but a test, after which His justice is swift and overwhelming.