Surah Al-Haqqah 69:5
سُورَةُ الحَاقَّةِ · Meccan · Verse 5 of 52
فَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَأُهْلِكُوا۟ بِٱلطَّاغِيَةِ
Translation
Thamud was destroyed by a deafening blast;
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
The Overwhelming Calamity
This verse recounts a powerful lesson from history: "So as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overwhelming calamity" (فَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَأُهْلِكُوا۟ بِٱلطَّاغِيَةِ). Here, Allah is speaking directly, reminding us of the ultimate end of those who denied His signs, much like the disbelievers in Mecca during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The tone is a stark warning, emphasizing the dire consequences of rejecting truth.
What the Word Reveals
The deep meaning of this verse, particularly through the lens of its precise wording, lies in the singular Arabic word: *al-Taghiya* (ٱلطَّاغِيَةِ). This word originates from the root *ṭ-gh-y*, which conveys the idea of exceeding limits, transgressing, or overflowing. Therefore, when the Quran states that Thamud were destroyed *bi al-Taghiya*, it implies their annihilation by something that itself went beyond all normal boundaries in its power and severity. It wasn't merely a calamity, but *the overwhelming calamity*.
Scholars have explored what this *al-Taghiya* specifically refers to. Al-Jalalayn explained it as an immensely powerful "cry" or "scream" (الصيحة المجاوزة للحد في الشدة). Other exegetes, like Ibn Abbas and Qatadah, as noted by al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi, identified it as a "thunderbolt" (الصاعقة) or a severe "tremor" (الرجفة). What unites these interpretations is the shared understanding that the event was extraordinarily immense and beyond any ordinary experience. Ibn Ashur further clarified that it was an event that "exceeded the normal state in severity," likening its overwhelming nature to the actions of a tyrant (طاغي) who oversteps all moral and ethical bounds.
A Deeper Connection
Beyond simply describing the immense physical force of the destruction, the word *al-Taghiya* offers another profound layer of meaning. While it primarily refers to the catastrophic event, its root word also resonates deeply with the "transgression" (طغيان) of the people of Thamud themselves. They had gone beyond all limits in their disbelief and rebellion against Allah's commands, particularly in their treatment of Prophet Salih and the sacred she-camel. Thus, the divine punishment that befell them was fittingly an "overwhelming calamity", a force that matched, if not exceeded, the extent of their own rebellion. This precise word choice serves as a powerful reminder: when humanity transgresses and oversteps its boundaries, the divine consequences can be equally boundless.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Haqqah 69:5 is discussed in 5 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Haqqah 69:5 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.