فَعَقَرُوهَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فِى دَارِكُمْ ثَلَـٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍ 65
Translations
But they hamstrung her, so he said, "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise not to be denied [i.e., unfailing]."
Transliteration
Fa-'aqaroo-ha fa-qala tamatta'oo fee daari-kum tha-latha-ta ayyam; dhali-ka wa'adun ghayru mak-dhooб
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the people of Thamud slaughtered the she-camel (sent as a sign from Allah through the Prophet Salih), after which Salih warned them that they would enjoy themselves in their homes for only three days before divine punishment would befall them. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ultimatum was a manifestation of Allah's justice—giving the people a final respite before the inevitable consequence of their transgression. The phrase 'that is a promise not to be belied' emphasizes the absolute certainty of Allah's warning and the inescapability of divine punishment for those who reject the signs of Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Thamud in Surah Hud, a Meccan surah that recounts stories of past nations and their rejection of prophets. The broader context illustrates how Thamud was tested with a miraculous she-camel as a sign from Allah through Prophet Salih, yet they rejected this sign and killed the animal—a grave transgression that sealed their fate. This narrative serves as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers of the time about the consequences of rejecting divine signs.
Related Hadiths
The story of Thamud and the she-camel is referenced in Sahih Muslim (hadith concerning the destruction of Thamud), and the general theme of divine punishment for rejecting signs is found throughout Hadith literature. The Quran itself provides the most detailed account of this event across multiple surahs (Ash-Shams 91:13-14, Al-A'raf 7:73-79, Ash-Shu'ara 26:155-158).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that when people willfully reject divine guidance and commit grave transgressions, they should not mistake Allah's patience with weakness or impunity—His warnings are certain and His promises inviolable. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder of the seriousness of rejecting clear signs from Allah and the importance of heeding prophetic guidance before it is too late.