Surah Ash Shu'ara Tafseer

Do you build on every Ri` an Ayah for your amusement!

The scholars of Tafsir differed over the meaning of the word Ri`. In brief, they said that it refers to an elevated location at a well-known crossroads, where they would build a huge, dazzling, sturdy structure, this is why he said:

أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ايَةً

(Do you build on every Ri` an Ayah) i.e., a well-known landmark,

تَعْبَثُونَ

(for your amusement), meaning, `you are only doing that for the purpose of frivolity, not because you need it, but for fun and to show off your strength.'

So their Prophet, peace be upon him, denounced them for doing that, because it was a waste of time and exhausted people's bodies for no purpose, and kept them busy with something that was of no benefit in this world or the next.

He said:

وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ