Tafsir of Ya seen 36:18

Surah Ya-Sin (36): Verse 18

Then, their response after this was their saying: "Indeed, we have taken an evil omen from you."

This occurred because when the Messengers showed exaggeration in their delivery of the message, the disbelievers responded with exaggeration in their denial.

When the Messengers said: "{Indeed, we are messengers sent to you}" (36:14), they replied: "{You are nothing but liars}" (36:15).

And when the Messengers confirmed their statement with an oath, saying: "{Our Lord knows}" (36:16), they reinforced their denial by invoking ill omens (Tiyarah) concerning them.

It is as if they meant: In the first instance, you were liars. In the second instance, you have become persistent in lying, swearing upon it. Since a false oath leads to desolation (as the saying goes, "A false oath leaves the dwellings barren"), we now take an evil omen from you a second time. In the first instance, we left you [to your state], but in the second, we will not leave you because misfortune will reach us due to you.

Therefore, they said: "{If you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and a painful punishment from us will touch you.}"

The phrase "{we will surely stone you}" (لنرجمنكم) admits of two interpretations:

1. Verbal Abuse: We will curse you with harsh words (stoning by speech). In this case, the subsequent phrase "{and a painful punishment will touch you}" (وليمسنكم) serves as an escalation, as if they are saying: Verbal abuse is not enough; it will lead to physical striking and sensory pain.
2. Physical Stoning: The intended meaning is stoning with stones. In this case, the phrase "{and a painful punishment will touch you}" clarifies the nature of the stoning. It means: We will not stone you lightly—with just one or two stones—but rather, we will continue this until death, which is a painful punishment. Alternatively, it could mean: We will stone you, and due to the stoning, a painful punishment from Us will touch you.

We have previously mentioned that Al-Aleem (أليم) means "that which causes pain" (i.e., Muf'il), although the Fa'eel pattern meaning Muf'al is rare.

It is also possible that it follows the pattern of "{a night of contentment}" (عشية راضية) (Al-Haqqah: 21), meaning a night characterized by contentment. Thus, "the painful punishment" (العذاب الأليم) means the punishment characterized by pain (Fa'eel meaning Fa'il), which is a common usage.

Translation of the Response (36:18):

"{They said: 'Your omen is with yourselves. Is it because you were reminded? Nay, you are a transgressing people.'}"

Exegesis:

1. "{Your omen is with yourselves}" (طائركم معكم): This is a refutation of their claim of ill omen. They are essentially saying: The source of any misfortune or bad luck lies within your own actions and disbelief, not with us (the Messengers). The "omen" (Tiyarah) is a result of your own state.
2. "{Is it because you were reminded?}" (أءن ذكرتم): This is an expression of astonishment and rebuke. They are asking: Do you attribute the misfortune to us simply because we reminded you of the truth and warned you? This implies that their reaction is irrational.
3. "{Nay, you are a transgressing people}" (بل أنتم قوم مسرفون): This is the definitive conclusion. They are not suffering misfortune because of the Messengers or the reminder; rather, they are inherently people who exceed the limits of righteousness and reason (Israf). Their transgression is the true cause of their distress and their hostile reaction.