Tafseer of The Winnowing Winds · Adh-Dhaariyat · 51:45
And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.
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.
The explanation of His statement, the Exalted: Then they were not able to rise, nor could they help themselves (45)
The Exalted, whose remembrance is sublime, says: Then they were unable to defend themselves against the punishment of Allah which descended upon them, and they had no power to raise themselves up against it.
As Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement Then they were not able to rise, he says: the people were unable to raise themselves up against the punishment of Allah, blessed and exalted is He.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, he said: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda Then they were not able to rise, he said: to raise themselves up.
Some of the Arabic philologists said: the meaning of His statement Then they were not able to rise is: Then they were not able to carry it out. He said: had it been Then they were not able to raise up (iqāma), that too would have been correct, and the omission of the alif from it is like His statement He has caused you to grow from the earth, as a growing (nabātan).
His statement nor could they help themselves — He says: and they had no power to take retribution against the one who brought down upon them the punishment that overtook them.
Qatāda used to say in its explanation what Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda nor could they help themselves, he said: they possessed no strength with which they could defend themselves against Allah, mighty and exalted is He.
