Basic
Nations
Surah: Al-Qalam (17)
Companions of the Garden (Surah Al-Qalam) — Miserliness, Punishment, and Belated Regret
Quranic context: Al-Qalam, verses 17-33
Context: Sons inherited a garden from their righteous father. He used to give the poor their share from it — so the sons decided: "We will harvest it at dawn — let no poor person enter it today." They planned to harvest secretly before the poor could ask for their share.
The nocturnal punishment:
"A visitation from your Lord came upon it while they slept — and it became as if reaped." The garden was destroyed overnight as though it never existed. They went out joyfully at dawn — "When they saw it, they said: We are surely lost — no, we are deprived!"
Honest self-criticism:
"The most moderate among them said: Did I not tell you — why do you not glorify Allah?" There was one among them who had reservations but was silenced. Then: "They blamed one another — they said: Woe to us, we were transgressors!"
Lesson: Wealth is a trust — whoever withholds the poor's right from their wealth may have the entire wealth taken away. Planning to evade Allah's right leads to deprivation of the blessing of wealth.
Context: Sons inherited a garden from their righteous father. He used to give the poor their share from it — so the sons decided: "We will harvest it at dawn — let no poor person enter it today." They planned to harvest secretly before the poor could ask for their share.
The nocturnal punishment:
"A visitation from your Lord came upon it while they slept — and it became as if reaped." The garden was destroyed overnight as though it never existed. They went out joyfully at dawn — "When they saw it, they said: We are surely lost — no, we are deprived!"
Honest self-criticism:
"The most moderate among them said: Did I not tell you — why do you not glorify Allah?" There was one among them who had reservations but was silenced. Then: "They blamed one another — they said: Woe to us, we were transgressors!"
Lesson: Wealth is a trust — whoever withholds the poor's right from their wealth may have the entire wealth taken away. Planning to evade Allah's right leads to deprivation of the blessing of wealth.
Source: Ibn Kathir Tafsir (8/195); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (18/233)
Test Yourself
What was the sin of the Companions of the Garden in Surah Al-Qalam and what was their punishment?
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