Surah Al Isra Tafseer

Perhaps He will send You back to the Sea

Allah says,

أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ

Or do you feel secure,

`you who turn away from Us after acknowledging Our Oneness at sea once you are back upon dry land,'

أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَى

that He will not send you back a second time to sea

فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ

and send against you a Qasif,

which will destroy your masts and sink your vessels.

Ibn Abbas and others said,

"Al-Qasifis the wind of the sea which destroys vessels and sinks them."

فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ

and drown you because of your disbelief,

means because of your rejection and turning away from Allah.

ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا

Then you will not find any avenger therein against Us.

Ibn Abbas said that this means a helper.

Mujahid said,

"A helper who will avenge you,"

i.e., take revenge on your behalf.

Qatadah said it means,

"We are not afraid that anyone will pursue Us with anything of that nature (i.e., vengeance).