Surah An Nahl Tafseer

Surah
Juz
Page
1
Al-Fatihah
The Opener
001
2
Al-Baqarah
The Cow
002
3
Ali 'Imran
Family of Imran
003
4
An-Nisa
The Women
004
5
Al-Ma'idah
The Table Spread
005
6
Al-An'am
The Cattle
006
7
Al-A'raf
The Heights
007
8
Al-Anfal
The Spoils of War
008
9
At-Tawbah
The Repentance
009
10
Yunus
Jonah
010
11
Hud
Hud
011
12
Yusuf
Joseph
012
13
Ar-Ra'd
The Thunder
013
14
Ibrahim
Abraham
014
15
Al-Hijr
The Rocky Tract
015
16
An-Nahl
The Bee
016
17
Al-Isra
The Night Journey
017
18
Al-Kahf
The Cave
018
19
Maryam
Mary
019
20
Taha
Ta-Ha
020
21
Al-Anbya
The Prophets
021
22
Al-Hajj
The Pilgrimage
022
23
Al-Mu'minun
The Believers
023
24
An-Nur
The Light
024
25
Al-Furqan
The Criterion
025
26
Ash-Shu'ara
The Poets
026
27
An-Naml
The Ant
027
28
Al-Qasas
The Stories
028
29
Al-'Ankabut
The Spider
029
30
Ar-Rum
The Romans
030
31
Luqman
Luqman
031
32
As-Sajdah
The Prostration
032
33
Al-Ahzab
The Combined Forces
033
34
Saba
Sheba
034
35
Fatir
Originator
035
36
Ya-Sin
Ya Sin
036
37
As-Saffat
Those who set the Ranks
037
38
Sad
The Letter "Saad"
038
39
Az-Zumar
The Troops
039
40
Ghafir
The Forgiver
040
41
Fussilat
Explained in Detail
041
42
Ash-Shuraa
The Consultation
042
43
Az-Zukhruf
The Ornaments of Gold
043
44
Ad-Dukhan
The Smoke
044
45
Al-Jathiyah
The Crouching
045
46
Al-Ahqaf
The Wind-Curved Sandhills
046
47
Muhammad
Muhammad
047
48
Al-Fath
The Victory
048
49
Al-Hujurat
The Rooms
049
50
Qaf
The Letter "Qaf"
050
51
Adh-Dhariyat
The Winnowing Winds
051
52
At-Tur
The Mount
052
53
An-Najm
The Star
053
54
Al-Qamar
The Moon
054
55
Ar-Rahman
The Beneficent
055
56
Al-Waqi'ah
The Inevitable
056
57
Al-Hadid
The Iron
057
58
Al-Mujadila
The Pleading Woman
058
59
Al-Hashr
The Exile
059
60
Al-Mumtahanah
She that is to be examined
060
61
As-Saf
The Ranks
061
62
Al-Jumu'ah
The Congregation, Friday
062
63
Al-Munafiqun
The Hypocrites
063
64
At-Taghabun
The Mutual Disillusion
064
65
At-Talaq
The Divorce
065
66
At-Tahrim
The Prohibition
066
67
Al-Mulk
The Sovereignty
067
68
Al-Qalam
The Pen
068
69
Al-Haqqah
The Reality
069
70
Al-Ma'arij
The Ascending Stairways
070
71
Nuh
Noah
071
72
Al-Jinn
The Jinn
072
73
Al-Muzzammil
The Enshrouded One
073
74
Al-Muddaththir
The Cloaked One
074
75
Al-Qiyamah
The Resurrection
075
76
Al-Insan
The Man
076
77
Al-Mursalat
The Emissaries
077
78
An-Naba
The Tidings
078
79
An-Nazi'at
Those who drag forth
079
80
Abasa
He Frowned
080
81
At-Takwir
The Overthrowing
081
82
Al-Infitar
The Cleaving
082
83
Al-Mutaffifin
The Defrauding
083
84
Al-Inshiqaq
The Sundering
084
85
Al-Buruj
The Mansions of the Stars
085
86
At-Tariq
The Nightcommer
086
87
Al-A'la
The Most High
087
88
Al-Ghashiyah
The Overwhelming
088
89
Al-Fajr
The Dawn
089
90
Al-Balad
The City
090
91
Ash-Shams
The Sun
091
92
Al-Layl
The Night
092
93
Ad-Duhaa
The Morning Hours
093
94
Ash-Sharh
The Relief
094
95
At-Tin
The Fig
095
96
Al-'Alaq
The Clot
096
97
Al-Qadr
The Power
097
98
Al-Bayyinah
The Clear Proof
098
99
Az-Zalzalah
The Earthquake
099
100
Al-'Adiyat
The Courser
100
101
Al-Qari'ah
The Calamity
101
102
At-Takathur
The Rivalry in world increase
102
103
Al-'Asr
The Declining Day
103
104
Al-Humazah
The Traducer
104
105
Al-Fil
The Elephant
105
106
Quraysh
Quraysh
106
107
Al-Ma'un
The Small kindnesses
107
108
Al-Kawthar
The Abundance
108
109
Al-Kafirun
The Disbelievers
109
110
An-Nasr
The Divine Support
110
111
Al-Masad
The Palm Fiber
111
112
Al-Ikhlas
The Sincerity
112
113
Al-Falaq
The Daybreak
113
114
An-Nas
Mankind
114

An-Nahl : 112

16:112
وَضَرَبَٱللَّهُمَثَلًاقَرْيَةًكَانَتْءَامِنَةًمُّطْمَئِنَّةًيَأْتِيهَارِزْقُهَارَغَدًامِّنكُلِّمَكَانٍفَكَفَرَتْبِأَنْعُمِٱللَّهِفَأَذَٰقَهَاٱللَّهُلِبَاسَٱلْجُوعِوَٱلْخَوْفِبِمَاكَانُوا۟يَصْنَعُونَ ١١٢

Saheeh International

And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah . So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.

Tafseer 'Ibn Kathir' (EN)

The Example of Makkah

Allah says:

وَضَرَبَ اللّهُ مَثَلً قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ امِنَةً مُّطْمَيِنَّةً

And Allah gives the example of a township (Makkah), it was secure and peaceful:its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste extreme hunger (famine) and fear, because of what they did.

This example refers to the people of Makkah, which had been secure, peaceful and stable, a secure sanctuary while men were being snatched away from everywhere outside of it. Whoever entered Makkah, he was safe, and he had no need to fear, as Allah said:

وَقَالُواْ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَأ أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَماً ءَامِناً يُجْبَى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رِّزْقاً مِّن لَّدُنَّا

And they say:"If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land."

Have We not established a secure sanctuary (Makkah) for them, to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves. (28:57)

Similarly, Allah says here:

يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا

its provision coming to it in abundance,

meaning, with ease and in plenty,

مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللّهِ

from every place, but it (its people) denied the favors of Allah.

meaning, they denied the blessings of Allah towards them, the greatest of which was Muhammad being sent to them, as Allah said:

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ بَدَّلُواْ نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ كُفْرًا وَأَحَلُّواْ قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ الْبَوَارِ

جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا وَبِيْسَ الْقَرَارُ

Have you not seen those who have changed the favors of Allah into disbelief, and caused their people to dwell in the abode of destruction; Hell, in which they will burn, - and what an evil place to settle in! (14:28-29).

Hence Allah replaced their former blessings with the opposite, and said:

فَأَذَاقَهَا اللّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ

So Allah made it taste extreme hunger (famine) and fear,

meaning, He inflicted it and made them taste of hunger after fruits of all kinds and provision in abundance from every place had been brought to it.

This was when they defied the Messenger of Allah and insisted on opposing him, so he supplicated against them, asking Allah to send them seven years like the seven years of Yusuf (i.e., seven years of famine), and they were stricken with a year in which everything that they had was destroyed, and they ate `Alhaz', which is the hair of the camel mixed with its blood when it is slaughtered.

بِمَا كَانُواْ يَصْنَعُونَ

because of what they did.

وَالْخَوْفِ

(and fear),

This refers to the fact that their sense of security was replaced with fear of the Messenger of Allah and his Companions after they had migrated to Al-Madinah. They feared the power and the attack of his armies, and they started to lose and face the destruction of everything that belonged to them, until Allah made it possible for His Messenger to conquer Makkah. This happened because of their evil deeds, their wrongdoing and their rejection of the Messenger that Allah sent to them from among themselves.

He reminded them of this blessing in the Ayah:

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُومِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولاً مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ

Indeed, Allah blessed the believers when He sent Messenger from among themselves to them. (3:164)

and,

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ يأُوْلِى الَالْبَـبِ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ قَدْ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكُمْ ذِكْراًرَسُولاً

So have Taqwa of Allah! O men of understanding who have believed, Allah has indeed revealed to you a reminder (this Qur'an). (And has also sent to you) a Messenger. (65:10-11)

and,

كَمَأ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولاً مِّنْكُمْ يَتْلُواْ عَلَيْكُمْ ايَـتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَـبَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ

Similarly (as a blessing), We have sent a Messenger to you from among you, reciting Our Ayat to you, and purifying you, and teaching you the Book (the Qur'an) and the Hikmah (i.e. Sunnah).) Until

وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ

(and do not be ungrateful). (2:151-152)

Allah changed the situation of the disbelievers and made it the opposite of what it had been, so they lived in fear after being secure, they were hungry after having plenty of provisions. After the believers lived in fear, Allah granted them security, giving them ample provisions after they lived in poverty, making them rulers, governors and leaders of mankind.

This is what we say about the example that was given of the people of Makkah.

It was also the opinion of Al-Awfi and Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam, and Malik narrated it from Az-Zuhri as well.

May Allah have mercy on them all.

وَلَقَدْ جَاءهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ

Quran Mazid
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Quran Mazid
Surah
Juz
Page
1
Al-Fatihah
The Opener
001
2
Al-Baqarah
The Cow
002
3
Ali 'Imran
Family of Imran
003
4
An-Nisa
The Women
004
5
Al-Ma'idah
The Table Spread
005
6
Al-An'am
The Cattle
006
7
Al-A'raf
The Heights
007
8
Al-Anfal
The Spoils of War
008
9
At-Tawbah
The Repentance
009
10
Yunus
Jonah
010
11
Hud
Hud
011
12
Yusuf
Joseph
012
13
Ar-Ra'd
The Thunder
013
14
Ibrahim
Abraham
014
15
Al-Hijr
The Rocky Tract
015
16
An-Nahl
The Bee
016
17
Al-Isra
The Night Journey
017
18
Al-Kahf
The Cave
018
19
Maryam
Mary
019
20
Taha
Ta-Ha
020
21
Al-Anbya
The Prophets
021
22
Al-Hajj
The Pilgrimage
022
23
Al-Mu'minun
The Believers
023
24
An-Nur
The Light
024
25
Al-Furqan
The Criterion
025
26
Ash-Shu'ara
The Poets
026
27
An-Naml
The Ant
027
28
Al-Qasas
The Stories
028
29
Al-'Ankabut
The Spider
029
30
Ar-Rum
The Romans
030
31
Luqman
Luqman
031
32
As-Sajdah
The Prostration
032
33
Al-Ahzab
The Combined Forces
033
34
Saba
Sheba
034
35
Fatir
Originator
035
36
Ya-Sin
Ya Sin
036
37
As-Saffat
Those who set the Ranks
037
38
Sad
The Letter "Saad"
038
39
Az-Zumar
The Troops
039
40
Ghafir
The Forgiver
040
41
Fussilat
Explained in Detail
041
42
Ash-Shuraa
The Consultation
042
43
Az-Zukhruf
The Ornaments of Gold
043
44
Ad-Dukhan
The Smoke
044
45
Al-Jathiyah
The Crouching
045
46
Al-Ahqaf
The Wind-Curved Sandhills
046
47
Muhammad
Muhammad
047
48
Al-Fath
The Victory
048
49
Al-Hujurat
The Rooms
049
50
Qaf
The Letter "Qaf"
050
51
Adh-Dhariyat
The Winnowing Winds
051
52
At-Tur
The Mount
052
53
An-Najm
The Star
053
54
Al-Qamar
The Moon
054
55
Ar-Rahman
The Beneficent
055
56
Al-Waqi'ah
The Inevitable
056
57
Al-Hadid
The Iron
057
58
Al-Mujadila
The Pleading Woman
058
59
Al-Hashr
The Exile
059
60
Al-Mumtahanah
She that is to be examined
060
61
As-Saf
The Ranks
061
62
Al-Jumu'ah
The Congregation, Friday
062
63
Al-Munafiqun
The Hypocrites
063
64
At-Taghabun
The Mutual Disillusion
064
65
At-Talaq
The Divorce
065
66
At-Tahrim
The Prohibition
066
67
Al-Mulk
The Sovereignty
067
68
Al-Qalam
The Pen
068
69
Al-Haqqah
The Reality
069
70
Al-Ma'arij
The Ascending Stairways
070
71
Nuh
Noah
071
72
Al-Jinn
The Jinn
072
73
Al-Muzzammil
The Enshrouded One
073
74
Al-Muddaththir
The Cloaked One
074
75
Al-Qiyamah
The Resurrection
075
76
Al-Insan
The Man
076
77
Al-Mursalat
The Emissaries
077
78
An-Naba
The Tidings
078
79
An-Nazi'at
Those who drag forth
079
80
Abasa
He Frowned
080
81
At-Takwir
The Overthrowing
081
82
Al-Infitar
The Cleaving
082
83
Al-Mutaffifin
The Defrauding
083
84
Al-Inshiqaq
The Sundering
084
85
Al-Buruj
The Mansions of the Stars
085
86
At-Tariq
The Nightcommer
086
87
Al-A'la
The Most High
087
88
Al-Ghashiyah
The Overwhelming
088
89
Al-Fajr
The Dawn
089
90
Al-Balad
The City
090
91
Ash-Shams
The Sun
091
92
Al-Layl
The Night
092
93
Ad-Duhaa
The Morning Hours
093
94
Ash-Sharh
The Relief
094
95
At-Tin
The Fig
095
96
Al-'Alaq
The Clot
096
97
Al-Qadr
The Power
097
98
Al-Bayyinah
The Clear Proof
098
99
Az-Zalzalah
The Earthquake
099
100
Al-'Adiyat
The Courser
100
101
Al-Qari'ah
The Calamity
101
102
At-Takathur
The Rivalry in world increase
102
103
Al-'Asr
The Declining Day
103
104
Al-Humazah
The Traducer
104
105
Al-Fil
The Elephant
105
106
Quraysh
Quraysh
106
107
Al-Ma'un
The Small kindnesses
107
108
Al-Kawthar
The Abundance
108
109
Al-Kafirun
The Disbelievers
109
110
An-Nasr
The Divine Support
110
111
Al-Masad
The Palm Fiber
111
112
Al-Ikhlas
The Sincerity
112
113
Al-Falaq
The Daybreak
113
114
An-Nas
Mankind
114
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