Saba 34:9
Sheba · Meccan · Juz 22 · Page 429
Before and Behind Them
أَفَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِن نَّشَأۡ نَخۡسِفۡ بِهِمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ أَوۡ نُسۡقِطۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ كِسَفࣰا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةࣰ لِّكُلِّ عَبۡدࣲ مُّنِيبࣲ ٩
Have they not observed what is before them and what is behind them of the sky and the earth? If We will, We can make the earth swallow them, or cause obliteration from the sky to fall on them. Lo! herein surely is a portent for every slave who turneth (to Allah) repentant.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
Do they not look at what is before them and behind them of the heaven and earth?
Insight
According to Elmalılı, if Allah willed He could swallow them with an earthquake or drop fragments of the sky on them; in this is a lesson for every servant who turns to Allah.
Reflect
Look around you and reflect on Allah’s power.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›