وَإِذَا ٱلْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ 4
Translations
And when full-term she-camels are neglected
Transliteration
Wa-idha al-'isharu 'uttilat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the abandonment and negligence of pregnant camels (al-'ishar), which were highly valued in Arab society, during the Day of Judgment when all worldly concerns become meaningless. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this serves as a metaphor for how people will abandon their most precious possessions and concerns when faced with the reality of the afterlife, emphasizing the complete upheaval of all worldly values on the Day of Resurrection.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Takwir, a Meccan chapter describing the cosmic events and signs of the Day of Judgment. The surah uses vivid imagery familiar to the Quraysh—such as camels and celestial phenomena—to make the reality of the afterlife tangible and compelling to the Arabian audience, preparing them for divine accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in Sahih Bukhari: 'The best of your wealth is a horse and the best of your garments is wool,' indicating the high value placed on livestock in Islamic tradition, which contextualizes why camels are mentioned as symbols of worldly attachment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that all material possessions and worldly concerns, no matter how valuable or cherished, will become utterly insignificant in the face of divine reality; we should therefore prioritize spiritual preparation and righteous deeds over attachment to material accumulation.
Related Ayahs
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
But only one who comes to Allāh with a sound heart."
ٱلْمُلْكُ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلْحَقُّ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ وَكَانَ يَوْمًا عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَسِيرًا
True sovereignty, that Day, is for the Most Merciful. And it will be upon the disbelievers a difficult Day.
وَإِذَا ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُزْلِفَتْ
And when Paradise is brought near,