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Peoples
Surah: Al-Furqan (38)
The People of the Rass — The People Who Were Destroyed and Nearly Forgotten
وَعَادٗا وَثَمُودَاْ وَأَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلرَّسِّ وَقُرُونَۢا بَيۡنَ ذَٰلِكَ كَثِيرٗا
— الفرقان الآية 38
Quranic context: Al-Furqan 38 / Qaf 12-13
Quranic mention: Mentioned among the destroyed peoples: "And Aad and Thamud and the companions of the Rass" (Al-Furqan: 38) and also in Surah Qaf: "Before them the people of Nuh denied and the companions of the Rass."
Who were they? Scholars disagreed greatly. The main positions:
Lesson from the ambiguity: The Quran mentioned them without detail — the lesson is in their destruction and in the company they were placed alongside (Aad and Thamud). Ignorance of the specific people does not cancel the lesson from them.
Quranic mention: Mentioned among the destroyed peoples: "And Aad and Thamud and the companions of the Rass" (Al-Furqan: 38) and also in Surah Qaf: "Before them the people of Nuh denied and the companions of the Rass."
Who were they? Scholars disagreed greatly. The main positions:
- Position 1: A people who worshiped a palm tree; their well was called "al-Rass" — from the word meaning a well
- Position 2: The people of the prophet Hanzalah ibn Safwan — they denied him and were destroyed
- Position 3 (reported): The people of the trench (Ukhdud) — or a people in al-Yamamah
Lesson from the ambiguity: The Quran mentioned them without detail — the lesson is in their destruction and in the company they were placed alongside (Aad and Thamud). Ignorance of the specific people does not cancel the lesson from them.
Source: Ibn Kathir (6/113); Al-Tabari (19/11); Al-Qurtubi (13/22)
Test Yourself
What was Ibn Kathir's position on narrations about the companions of the Rass, and what is the lesson in their vague mention in the Quran?
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