وَكَانَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ 48
Translations
And there were in the city nine family heads causing corruption in the land and not amending [its affairs].
Transliteration
Wa kana fi al-madinati tisAAatu rahtin yufsiduna fi al-ardi wa la yuslihuun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to nine men in the city of Thamud who were devoted to spreading corruption and mischief in the land, making no effort toward reform or righteousness. According to classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, these nine ringleaders were the primary instigators of the people's rejection of the Prophet Salih and their determination to harm the she-camel, embodying complete opposition to divine guidance. Their characterization as those who 'make no reform' underscores their total commitment to evil and their refusal to heed any call toward goodness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader narrative of Surah An-Naml concerning the people of Thamud and their fate. It contextualizes the story by identifying the nine leaders whose conspiracy and corruption led the entire community toward destruction, illustrating how a small group of corrupting individuals can influence and doom an entire society.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly cites this specific ayah, Sahih Muslim contains narrations about the people of Thamud and their rejection of the she-camel. The principle relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned about the consequences of spreading corruption: 'The people most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection are those who spread corruption in the land.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that corruption spreads through the deliberate actions of committed wrongdoers, and that societies face ruin when influential figures prioritize evil over reform. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of identifying and resisting those who spread corruption, while working actively toward positive change and righteousness in our communities.