وَأَصْحَـٰبُ مَدْيَنَ ۖ وَكُذِّبَ مُوسَىٰ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ 44
Translations
And the inhabitants of Madyan. And Moses was denied, so I prolonged enjoyment for the disbelievers; then I seized them, and how [terrible] was My reproach.
Transliteration
Wa-ashabu Madyana, wa kudhdhiba Musa fa-amlaytu lilkafirin thumma akhdhathum, fa-kayfa kana nakiri
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the people of Madyan (Midian) and mentions that Prophet Musa (Moses) was denied and rejected by them. Allah granted the disbelievers respite and delay in punishment, then seized them with a terrible punishment. Ibn Kathir notes this demonstrates Allah's pattern of giving disbelievers time to repent, and when they persist in rejection, His punishment comes swiftly and comprehensively. The ayah emphasizes that despite numerous warnings through messengers, those who reject face inevitable divine retribution.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Hajj, a Medinan surah that discusses various themes including the pilgrimage, prophethood, and the consequences faced by previous nations. The broader context (22:40-48) recounts stories of earlier peoples who rejected their messengers—including the people of Madyan. This section serves to reassure the Prophet Muhammad and believers that rejection by disbelievers follows a historical pattern, and that Allah's justice ultimately prevails.
Related Hadiths
The story of the people of Madyan and Prophet Shu'ayb is detailed in multiple hadith collections regarding the consequences of rejecting messengers. See Tafsir Ibn Kathir's discussion referencing the comprehensive accounts in Surah Al-A'raf (7:85-93) where the punishment of the Madyanites is described in detail.
Themes
Key Lesson
Allah's patience with disbelievers is not weakness but a test of their resolve; ultimately, rejection of divine guidance leads to inevitable punishment. For believers, this ayah reinforces that persistence in faith despite opposition follows the tradition of the prophets, and that Allah's justice will vindicate the righteous.
Related Ayahs
يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ
He will gulp it but will hardly [be able to] swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die. And before him is a massive punishment.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُم بَدَّلْنَـٰهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses - We will drive them into a fire. Every time their skins are roasted through, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.
لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌ
To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَسَبُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ جَزَآءُ سَيِّئَةٍۭ بِمِثْلِهَا وَتَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ مَّا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ ۖ كَأَنَّمَآ أُغْشِيَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ قِطَعًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مُظْلِمًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But they who have earned [blame for] evil doings - the recompense of an evil deed is its equivalent, and humiliation will cover them. They will have from Allāh no protector. It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night - so dark [are they]. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.