أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةً تَعْبَثُونَ 128
Translations
Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves,
Transliteration
Atabnoon bikulli ri'in ayatan ta'bathoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Prophet Hud's speech to his people, questioning their wasteful construction of monuments and fortifications on every high place out of frivolity and vanity. According to classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, the 'Ad people built these structures not from genuine necessity but as a display of power and arrogance, treating them as mere amusement ('ta'abathoon'). This reflects their heedlessness of Allah's signs and their preoccupation with worldly embellishments rather than spiritual purpose.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan chapter that recounts the stories of various prophets and their peoples. The ayah specifically reflects Hud's admonishment of the 'Ad civilization for their architectural extravagance and arrogance, serving as a warning to the Quraysh of Mecca who similarly indulged in worldly pursuits and rejected the message of Prophet Muhammad.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, the theme relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned against wastefulness: 'Indeed, Allah does not like the wasteful.' This connects to the broader Islamic principle of rejecting extravagance and frivolous spending.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers to examine their intentions and motivations in building and accumulating possessions—ensuring they serve a meaningful purpose rather than mere display or vain amusement. It teaches that true wisdom lies in using resources for righteous ends, not in constructing monuments to human pride.