Tafseer of Those drawn up in Ranks · As-Saaffaat · 37:90
So they turned away from him, departing.
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.
His statement ( فَتَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ مُدْبِرِينَ ) — "Then they turned away from him, turning their backs" — He says: they turned away from Ibrāhīm, turning their backs on him, out of fear that the illness which he mentioned having would spread to them.
As was related to me on the authority of Yaḥyā ibn Zakariyyā, on the authority of one of his companions, on the authority of Ḥakīm ibn Jubayr, on the authority of Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning ( إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ ) — "Indeed, I am ill" — he says: stricken by the plague, so they turned away from him, turning their backs. Saʿīd said: fleeing from the plague is indeed something ancient.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning ( فَتَوَلَّوْا ): they recoiled from him ( مُدْبِرِينَ ): withdrawing.
