Tafseer of The Prophets · Al-Anbiyaa · 21:14
They said, "O woe to us! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Allah, exalted be His remembrance, says: Those upon whom Allah sent down His scourge because of their wrongdoing said, when the scourge of Allah descended upon them: Woe to us, we were wrongdoers through our disbelief in our Lord. And their calling out did not cease — that is to say: their calling out did not cease, when the scourge of Allah reached them because of their own wrongdoing: يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ (Woe to us, we were wrongdoers) — until Allah killed them and mowed them down with the sword just as crops are mowed down and are cut off root and branch with sickles. And His word خَامِدِينَ (extinguished): He says: perished, their glow extinguished and their movement brought to a standstill, so that they lay lifeless, just as a fire is extinguished and put out.
In a manner similar to how we have explained this verse, the exegetes of the Qurʾān spoke.
Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda.
