Tafseer of The Moon · Al-Qamar · 54:24
And said, "Is it one human being among us that we should follow? Indeed, we would then be in error and madness.
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.
And His statement إِنَّا إِذًا لَفِي ضَلالٍ وَسُعُرٍ ("indeed, we would then be in error and madness"); he says: they said: indeed, were we to follow Ṣāliḥ — while he is but a single human being from among us — we would then be in error; they mean: in straying from what is right and in treading a path devoid of rectitude. And "suʿur"; by it they mean by "suʿur": the plural of "saʿīr" (blazing fire, hence: frenzy/madness).
Qatāda used to say: by "suʿur" was meant: the misery and exhaustion.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement إِنَّا إِذًا لَفِي ضَلالٍ وَسُعُرٍ ("indeed, we would then be in error and madness"): in misery and torment.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement إِنَّا إِذًا لَفِي ضَلالٍ وَسُعُرٍ ("indeed, we would then be in error and madness"), he said: error and misery.
