Surah Ad-Dhariyat 51:45
ﲭ ﲮ ﲯ ﲰ ﲱ ﲲ ﲳ
And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.
Tafsir of Ad-Dhariyat 51:45
Tafsir
Ruh al-Ma'ani
Verse range: 51:45
45
(So they were not able to stand), similar to the saying of the Exalted: (So they became, within their home, fallen prone).
It is said: It is derived from the expression "Such a person cannot stand for such a thing" (i.e., ma yaqumu fulanun bi-kadha), meaning they were unable to repel it. This has been narrated from Qatadah.
Thus, it is a metaphorical meaning or a common metonymy that has attained the status of literal reality.
(And they were not able to defend themselves) by means of others, just as they were not able to protect themselves.