Tafsir of Ya seen 36:13

"And present to them an example: the people of the city..."

This is either a conjunction connected to what preceded it—the narration of one story linked to another—or it is a conjunction connected to an implied verb, meaning: "Warn them and present to them an example, etc."

"Presenting an example" (darb al-mathal) is used sometimes to apply a strange situation to another similar to it, as in the words of the Exalted: "Allah presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut" (at-Tahrim: 10). Other times, it is used to mention a strange situation and explain it to the people without the intention of applying it to a counterpart, as in His words: "And We have clearly set forth for you the examples" (Ibrahim: 45), meaning: We have explained to you wondrous states which are, in their strangeness, like proverbs.

According to the first interpretation, the meaning is: "Make the people of the city an example for these people regarding their extremism in disbelief and their insistence upon denial." That is, apply their state to their state, with "an example" (mathalan) being the second object of "present" (idrib), and "the people of the city" (ashab al-qaryah) being the first object, which was delayed so that what follows it could serve as its explanation and clarification. According to the second interpretation, the meaning is: "Mention and clarify to them a story that is, in its strangeness, like a proverb."

The word of the Exalted, "the people of the city" (ashab al-qaryah), involves an implied genitive addition (mudaf); that is, "the example of the people of the city." This genitive is a total-for-total substitute (badal kull min kull) for "an example," or an explanatory appositive ('atf bayan) for it, based on the view that permits their difference in definiteness and indefiniteness. It has also been permitted that the implied word is the object, and this is a circumstantial qualifier (hal).

The city, as reported from Ibn Abbas, Buraydah, and Ikrimah, is Antioch. In al-Bahr, it is stated that it is Antioch without disagreement.

"When the messengers came to it"

This is an inclusion (ishtimal) from "the people of the city," or an adverb of time for the implied verb. It has also been suggested that it is a total-for-total substitute for "the people," meaning their story, and the adverb refers to what is contained therein; however, this is an unnecessary affectation.

It has been said that the use of "came to it" (ja'aha)—in the feminine singular—rather than "came to them" (ja'ahum)—in the masculine plural—is an indication that the messengers came to them in their place of residence.

The messengers, according to Qatadah and other eminent exegetes, were the messengers of Isa (peace be upon him) from among the disciples. He sent them when he was raised to heaven. Their sending is attributed to the Exalted in His words: [text continues].