Tafsir Ibn Kathir on Ya seen 36:67

Surah Ya seen 36:67

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ﲦ ﲧ ﲨ ﲩ ﲪ ﲫ ﲬ ﲭ ﲮ ﲯ

And if We willed, We could have deformed them, [paralyzing them] in their places so they would not be able to proceed, nor could they return.

ولو نشاء لمسخناهم على مكانتهم

And if it had been Our will, We could have transformed them in their places. Al-Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said; "`We could have destroyed them.'' As-Suddi said, "`We could have changed their form.'' Abu Salih said, "`We could have turned them to stone.'' Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah said, "`We could have caused them to sit on their feet.'' Allah says:

فما استطاعوا مضيا

Then they would have been unable to go forward, meaning, move to the front,

وﻻ يرجعون

nor they could have turned back. meaning, move backwards. They would have remained static, unable to move forwards or backwards

Tafsir of Ya seen 36:67

Tafsir Ibn Kathir