Story of The people of Saba and the Arim Flood. Indeed there was for Saba (Sheba) a sign in their dwelling place, - two gardens on the right hand and on the left (and it was said to them) Eat of the provision of your Lord, and be grateful to Him, a fair land and an OftForgiving Lord. Chapter of {The Sheba}. But they turned away (from the obedience of Allah), so We sent against them Sail AlArim (flood released from the dam), and We converted their two gardens into gardens producing bitter bad fruit, and tamarisks, and some few lotetrees. Chapter of {The Sheba}. Like this We requited them because they were ungrateful disbelievers. And never do We requit in such a way except those who are ungrateful, (disbelievers). Chapter of {The Sheba}. And We placed between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stages (of journey) between them easy (saying): Travel in them safely both by night and day. Chapter of {The Sheba}. But they said: Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer, and they wronged themselves, so We made them as tales (in the land), and We dispersed them all, totally. Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast grateful (person). Chapter of {The Sheba}. And indeed Iblis (Satan) did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of true believers (in the Oneness of Allah). {The Sheba}. And he (Iblis Satan) had no authority over them, except that We might test him, who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is a Hafiz over everything. (AllKnower of everything i.e. He keeps record of each and every person as regards deeds, and then He will reward them accordingly). {The Sheba}. Say: (O Muhammad SAW to those polytheists, pagans, etc.) Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allah, they possess not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant), either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor there is for Him any supporter from among them. Chapter of {The Sheba}. IN THE SHADOWS OF THE HOLY QURAN. aforetime, a Sign in their homeland― two Gardens to the right and to the left.” Eat of the Sustenance (provided) by your Lord, and be grateful to Him: a territory fair and happy, and a Lord Oft-Forgiving! But they turned away (from Allah), and We sent against them the flood (released) from the Dams, and We converted their two garden (rows) into gardens producing bitter fruit, and tamarisks, and some few (stunted) Lote― trees. That was the Requital We gave them because they ungratefully rejected Faith: and never do We give (such) requital except to such as are ungrateful rejecters. (Surah Saba: 15-17) In the Qur’an, there is a reference to the people of Saba and the calamity of flood that befell them because of their ungratefulness. There is even a detailed explanation about the occurrence of this calamity. Since the calamity that was sent to the people of Saba is mentioned as “Sayl al Arim” which means “the flood of Arim”. This expression of the Qur’an also gives clues about the way this flood occurred. The meaning of the word Arim is dam or barrage. The phrase “Sayl al Arim” means the flood that takes place as a result of the collapsing of the dam wall. Now, let us see how the news about the people Saba of which was informed by the Qur’an has been proved by historians with the records of history; “The community of Saba was one of the four biggest civilizations which lived in South Arabia. The historical records about the community of Saba report that this nation was a state like Phoenicians who were occupied with intense commerce activities. The Sabaeans are known to have been a civilized nation in history. In the inscriptions of the rulers of Saba, the words such as restore, dedicate and construct are frequently used. The Ma’rib Dam, which is one of the most important works of this people, is an important indication of the technological level this people had reached.” With the Ma’rib Dam, which they had constructed with very advanced technology, the Sabaean people became owners of a great irrigation capacity. The fruitful lands they thus obtained and their control over the trade routes allowed them to lead a magnificent and luxurious lifestyle. The total area that could be irrigated by the dam was 9,600 hectares, 5,300 hectares of which belonged to the southern plain, while the remaining part belonged to the northern plain. These two plains were referred to as Ma’rib and two plains in the Sabaean inscriptions. Perhaps, the expression in the Quran, two gardens to the right and to the left, points to the imposing gardens and vineyards in these two valleys. Thanks to this dam and its irrigation systems, the region became famous as the best irrigated and most fruitful area of Yemen. The Frenchman J. Holevy and the Austrian Glaser proved from written documents that the Ma’rib dam existed since ancient times. In the documents written in the Himer dialect, it is stated that this dam rendered the territory very productive. After the collapse of the dam-wall, all of the country was inundated by the flood. The canals that had been dug by the Sabaean people, and the wall that had been constructed by building barriers between the mountains, were destroyed and the irrigation system fell apart. As a result, the territory, which was like a garden before, turned into a place where weeds grew and there was no fruit left but the cherry-like fruit of little stumpy trees. Besides, there are inscriptions written in the Sabaean language on the pillars of Saba.The Christian archaeologist Werner Keller states the following in his book called The Holy Book Was Right (Und Die Bible Hat Doch Recht): “The flood of Arim occurred as it was described in the Qur’an. “Since the existence of such a dam and the destruction of the whole country by its collapse prove that the example given in the Quran about the people of the garden was indeed realized.” Now, we want to attract attention to the following points: 1. The Quran mentions the people of Saba and historians accept it. 2. The Quran states that the people of Saba lived in a beautiful city with green vineyards, gardens and orchards and historians accept it. 3. The Quran mentions a big dam in that city and historians accept it. 4. The Quran states that the dam irrigated two gardens and historians accept it. 5. The Quran mentions the calamity of flood that took place as a result of the collapsing of the dam wall and historians accept it. 6. The Quran states that the vineyards and gardens were destroyed and historians accept it. What do they mean? Yes, by accepting all of the news stated by the Quran, historians actually accept that the Quran is the Book of God because it is impossible for an illiterate person to discover them all on his own and inform people about them. Now, we want to ask: how can those who say the Quran is the word of a human being explain the accuracy of the news related to the past reported by the Quran? While the Quran expresses loudly like a thunder that it is the Book of God with the news it gives about the past, how can their voice, which is like the buzz of a mosquito, silence it? Author. 15.�Indeed there was a sign for the (people of) Sheba in their abode, two gardens in the right and the left; �Eat of the sustenance of your Lord and give thanks to Him (that you have) a pure city and a forgiving Lord�.� Commentary: Saba� is the name of the cultivated land of Yemen. This name, Saba�, had been the name of a great personality in that region that was chosen for this land. The biography of this country is instructive. After the statement of the great bounties that Allah had bestowed on David and Solomon and that these two Divine prophets acted on the duty of thanksgiving, in this holy verse there has been referred to another nation who were in a state opposite to them and they lived perhaps in the same time with them or a little after them. They were some people whom Allah granted kinds of blessings, but they paved the way of disbelief and, consequently, Allah negated His blessings from them. Then, they became so scattered and wandered that the story of their life became a gazing-stock for the people of the world. This nation was the people of Saba�. The Glorious Qur�ān has stated their instructive biography in five verses and it has pointed to some important details and specialties of their life in these few verses. At first, it says: �Indeed there was a sign for the (people of) Sheba in their abode, �� 63 As we will see later, this great Divine sign originated from here that those people by utilizing the particular spatial conditions and situation of the mountains around that region, in addition to the abundant God-given talent of those people, they could control the floods, which had no result save destruction, behind a strong dam, by which they succeeded to build a very habitable country. What a great sign it is that a means of destruction is changed into the most important means of development. The historians are divided in the belief that �Saba�� is whose name and what it is. The popular idea is that �Saba�� is the name of the father of Arabs of Yemen. According to a tradition narrated from the Messenger of Islam (p.b.u.h.), there was a man by the name of Saba�, from whom ten children were born, and from every one of them a tribe from the tribes of Arabs came into being in that land. (Majma�-ul-Bayān, following the verse) Some believe that �Saba�� is the name of the land of Yemen, or a part of it. The apparent meaning of the Qur�ān in the story of Solomon and hoopoe in Sura An-Naml also shows that �Saba�� had been the name of a place, where it says: �� and I have come to you from Sheba with a sure tiding.� [1] The situation here is that the apparent of the verse under discussion shows that �Saba�� had been a group of people who lived in that region, because the plural masculine pronoun /hum/ has returned to them. But there is not any inconsistency between these two commentaries, because it may be that at first Saba� had been the name of a person, then all his offspring and his tribe were entitled by that name, and later this name was also used for their land. [1] Sura An-Naml, No. 27, verse 22 64 Then the Qur�ān refers to the explanation of this Divine sign which was given to the people of Saba�. It says: �� two gardens in the right and the left; �� The story was such that the people of Saba�, by building a great dam between the magnificent mountains of that region, could store the water of the numerous floods, which caused only destruction or at least were wasted in the deserts vainly, at the back of that great dam, and by creating some windows in the dam they could take the vast store of water behind it under their own control. Thus, they succeeded to plant and grow different things in the vast lands over there. Fakhr-i-Rāzī has cited a problem here, saying that the existence of �two gardens� is not an important thing which can be referred to as �a sign�. In our opinion basically this problem is not something worthy to be discussed, because they were not two ordinary simple gardens, but they were a series of gardens joined together at two sides of a great stream which were watered from that lofty dam. These gardens were so bountiful of fruits and blessed that, as history indicates, if a person would put a large basket on his head and at the season of fruit, he passed under these trees there he could pour so much fruit in it that after a short time the basket would be filled with fruits. Is it not wonderful that a flood which is the source of destruction becomes the cause of cultivation? Is it not counted as a sign of Allah? In addition, an extraordinary security existed in that land which itself was counted one of the signs of Allah. This fact will later be referred to by the Qur�ān. Then the verse says that Allah told them as follows: �� Eat of the sustenance of your Lord and give thanks to Him (That you have) a pure city and a forgiving Lord�.� This short sentence has reiterated a collection of material and spiritual bounties in the most beautiful form. From the 65 point of material bounties, they had a pure and clean land. It was clean from the various pollutions: from thieves and unjust people, from pests and afflictions, from draught and famine, and from insecurity and terror. It has even been said that their land was clean from harmful insects, too. Their town had a clean air, a pleasant enlivening breeze, and a fertile land with productive trees. From the point of spiritual bounty, they had the forgiveness of Allah. He would dispense with their short comings and faults and He did not punish them and He did not involve their land in misfortune. All perfect praise is due to Allaah; I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger; may Allaah exalt his mention as well as his family and all his companions. Allaah Says (what means): “There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told]: Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [you have], and a forgiving Lord. But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam [i.e. the overwhelming flood that caused a break in their dam], and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees. [By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?And We placed between them and the cities which We had blessed [In the lands of what is now southern Syria and Palestine] [many] visible cities. And We determined between them the [distances of] journey [i.e., We placed the intermediate settlements at calculated distances for the convenience of travellers.], [saying]: Travel between them by night or by day in safety. But [insolently] they said: Our Lord! Lengthen the distance between our journeys, and wronged themselves, so We made them narrations [i.e., their story became a tale related amongst people to take an example from] and dispersed them in total dispersion. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful. And Satan had already confirmed through them [i.e. the people of Saba’] his assumption [i.e., that mankind could readily be misled by him.], so they followed him, except for a party of believers. And he had over them no authority except [it was decreed] that We might make evident who believes in the Hereafter from who is thereof in doubt. And your Lord, over all things, is Guardian.” [Quran 34: 15-21] The people of Saba’ were the kings of Yemen and Balqees, the wife of Sulaymaan may Allaah exalt his mention was from them. The people of Saba’ lived happy and joyful lives that were full of blessings; their sustenance was abundant and their trees and plants very fruitful. Allaah sent messengers to them, instructing them to eat from what He had provided for them and show gratitude towards Him, as well as to worship Him alone and believe in His oneness. They adhered to these instructions for a while, but then shunned His commandments, and were thus punished by a flood on their land. Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that a man came to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )and asked him whether Saba’ was a name of a man, a woman or a land; the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) answered by saying: “It is the name of a man who had ten children from his progeny, all of whom were Arab; six of them later lived in Yemen and four in Shaam (i.e., ancient Syria). The ones in Yemen were later known as the tribes of Mathhij, Kindah, Al-Azd, Al-Ashaa’iriyyoon, Anmaar and Himyar. As for the ones who lived in Shaam, they were to be the known tribes of Lakhm, Juthaam, ‘Aamilah and Ghassaan.”[Ahmad] Imaam Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “The meaning of the saying of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ): “…who had ten children from his progeny, all of whom were Arab”is that these ten descended from his offspring, to whom all the Arab tribes originate. It does not mean that they were his direct children, because between him and some of them were two or three generations, and more in some cases. After the flood of the dam hit their area, some remained in their land, while others left to other locations.” End of quote. The sign that Allaah gave to them refers to their land, which was blessed with fields of gardens, as well as being protected from afflictions, all of which necessitated gratitude. These gardens yielded enough fruits to suffice them, so they were overwhelmed by the happiness of being free from need. Allaah commanded them to express gratitude for these favours, namely: 1. The abundant provision He provided for them from these two gardens. 2. Good land, a beautiful climate and few cases of sickness (i.e., they rarely became sick due to the nice weather Allaah blessed them with). 3. The forgiveness they were promised in return for expressing gratitude towards Allaah. Instead of continuing to be thankful, they turned away and shunned the commandments of Allaah; they shunned monotheism and His worship, and refused to be thankful; they began worshipping the sun instead of Allaah, as the hoopoe bird informed Sulaymaan may Allaah exalt his mention saying, as Allaah informs us what means: “… I have come to you from Saba with certain news. Indeed, I found there a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne. I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allaah, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided.” [Quran27: 22-24] The flood that Allaah sent upon them comprised of a huge amount of water, which resulted in the total destruction of their gardens; their fruitful trees were rendered into others that were useless, bearing bitter fruits. Look what happened to them! Look how their gardens, with their fruitful trees, pleasant shade and fine natural views, were rendered into thorns and trees with bitter fruits, all of which resulted from their ungratefulness, their refusal of the truth and their association with Allaah. What was the result? “…That We repaid them”meaning that they were punished. Allaah knew that these people needed to travel in order to conduct trade with people of other villages, so He facilitated for them the means to reach these places for trade in a very easy manner, without them having to encounter any difficulties or feeling fearful in the least whilst on their journeys. This was another of the favours that Allaah had bestowed upon them. There were villages along their way which were close in distance, so that they would not have to carry much provision and water for their trips; also, the way to their destination was simple and well-known so that they would not get lost. Their travel was safe, regardless of whether they travelled during the day or by night, as an additional bounty. Nonetheless, they did not appreciate these bounties and favours from Allaah, and instead of being grateful, they requested that Allaah make their trips lengthy. They became very ungrateful and supplicated for distances that demanded large amounts of provision for their trips; therefore, their journeys became frightening ones, which also required much effort to complete. These people acted just as the children of Israel did with Prophet Moosaa, may Allaah exalt his mention when they requested him to provide them with green herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils and onions instead of having the bountiful provisions and life that Allaah had provided them with; this is why Allaah addressed the children of Israel saying what means: “…Would you exchange what is better for what is less? Go into [any] settlement and indeed, you will have what you have asked. And they were covered with humiliation and poverty and returned with anger from Allaah [upon them]…” [Quran 2: 61] The punishment that befell them was exemplary; an illustration for people of how they would instigate the punishment of Allaah if they were to ever act with ungratefulness. Also, it is a lesson for the afflicted to persevere through hardships; it is also proof that punishment befalls the disobedient in this life prior to the one they will face in the Hereafter. Mutarraf, may Allaah be pleased with him used to say: “The best slave is he who when blessed gives thanks and when afflicted, perseveres.” Suhayb ibn Sinaan, may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “How wonderful is the case of a believer! There is goodness for him in everything, and this is not the case with anyone except for a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allaah, and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently, and that is also good for him.”[Muslim] Satan has taken a vow to mislead mankind, as Allaah informs us, saying what means: “[Satan] said: By your might, I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants.” [Quran 38: 82-83] Satan was not certain of what he would do, because he could not have been; this is due to the fact that what would happen in the future was something of the unknown and unseen for him, and thus it was merely an assumption on his part. The people of Saba’ in general are amongst those for whom Satan’s assumption came true, and they indeed followed his way. On the other hand, there was a group of them who did not follow Satan, and these were thus included in the exception mentioned in the abovementioned verses of Chapter Saad. Allaah affirms that Satan has no power or authority over people to force them to do anything; Imaam Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “I swear by Allaah! Satan has no stick with him with which he hits people to (force them to) follow his way; this is nothing but whispers and self-delusion on the part of people – he simply calls people, and they respond.” End of quote. The wisdom behind allowing Satan to do what he does and whisper to people is to test them and make evident those amongst them who are truthful, and those who are liars. There are many lessons one can derive from this great story, the following are but some of them: · The people of Saba’ are a real life example to anyone who even contemplates being rebellious to the commands of Allaah, or ungrateful regarding His favours. Allaah warns people, especially the rich amongst them, to not follow in the footsteps of the people of Saba’ or imitate them, lest the same punishment befalls them. · It is mentioned in many places in the Qur’aan that certain disbelievers enjoyed gardens and fruits, but these gardens were squandered and eventually faced destruction; this story is one such example. Another example concerns Pharaoh and his people, about whom Allaah Says (what means): “So We removed them from gardens and springs. And treasures and honourable station – Thus. And We caused to inherit it the Children of Israel.” [Quran 26: 57-59] · Allaah is the only Provider and Sustainer. · The punishment of Allaah follows very quickly when people are rebellious and shun His commands. It is the way of Allaah that whenever people shun His commandments He sends punishment down upon them, and there are numerous verses in the Qur’aan addressing this issue, such as the saying of Allaah which means: “And Allaah presents an example: a city [i.e., Makkah] which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favours of Allaah. So Allaah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.” [Quran 16: 112] · If the slave does not thank Allaah for a favour, his punishment could be through that very favour. Water was one of the favours that the people of Saba’ had been bestowed with, and they were punished with it when they were ungrateful for it and shunned the commands of Allaah. · Allaah never punishes people without them being deserving of it due to their sinning and disobedience, as Allaah Says what means: “…And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.” [Quran 28: 59] · Only those who persevere and are grateful would benefit from the lessons of the Qur’aan and the signs of Allaah, despite the fact that all people observe these signs, yet the heedless never benefit from them, as Allaah Says what means: “And how many a sign within the heavens and the earth do they pass over while they, therefrom, are turning away.” [Quran 12: 105] There are three types of perseverance: · In performing acts of obedience · In refraining from prohibitions · During decrees of Allaah that are painful There are three ways of expressing gratitude to Allaah: · By the heart: through having it devoted to the One bestowing the favours, and acknowledging that He is the source of all favours. · By the limbs: through continuously being obedient to Him and using His favours in ways that please Him. · By the tongue: through the repeated mentioning, praising and glorification of Him.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 20:28:49 +0000
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