إِذِ ٱنۢبَعَثَ أَشْقَىٰهَا 12
Translations
When the most wretched of them was sent forth.
Transliteration
Idhi inbaeatha ashqaha
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to when the most wicked among the people of Thamud rose up and sent forth the she-camel's killer (Qadar ibn Salif). Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain this as a pivotal moment when the community's most immoral member led the charge in rejecting the Prophet Salih and ultimately slaughtering the miraculous she-camel, thereby sealing their destruction. The phrase 'ashqaha' (the most wretched/wicked of them) emphasizes that it was the morally depraved individual who incited the collective transgression that led to their annihilation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ash-Shams, which provides a Meccan narrative about the fate of the people of Thamud as a historical warning. The surah uses the story of Thamud's rejection of Prophet Salih and their destruction as evidence of Allah's justice and power, relevant to the early Meccan audience who similarly rejected Prophet Muhammad. The specific context here illustrates how one corrupt individual can lead an entire community toward ruin.
Related Hadiths
The story of Thamud and the she-camel is referenced in multiple hadiths. Sahih Bukhari (Vol. 4, Book 55) contains accounts of the she-camel's killing and Thamud's destruction. Additionally, the Prophet Muhammad warned against following the ways of previous nations, as mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah, emphasizing the relevance of Thamud's fate as a cautionary tale.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that moral corruption at the leadership or influential level can corrupt entire communities, and that individuals bear responsibility for their role in collective wrongdoing. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that one's character and choices have ripple effects on society, and that rejecting divine guidance—whether through the words of prophets or through conscience—inevitably leads to destruction.