Tafsir of Ad-Dhariyat 51:45

Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51): Verse 45

{فما استطاعوا من قيام} (So they could not stand up.)

This verse bears two possible interpretations:

The First Interpretation: It serves to emphasize their utter inability to flee, as a hyperbole. If one cannot even stand, how can they possibly walk, let alone escape? This interpretation contains subtle linguistic nuances:

1. The use of Istita'ah (استطاعة - ability/capacity): Istita'ah implies a request or dependence, suggesting a level below absolute Qudrah (قدرة - power). The theologians state that Istita'ah related to an action, either before or during it, points to a power derived from God. This is alluded to in the verse: {هل يستطيع ربك} (Can your Lord...) when read with the ta' (as tastati'u). Therefore, saying {فما استطاعوا} is more emphatic than saying, "They did not have the power to stand."
2. The addition of Min (من - from/of): The inclusion of min in {من قيام} serves as an emphasis (as previously explained).
3. The choice of the word Qiyam (قيام - standing): This word is used instead of Hirab (هرب - fleeing) because someone incapable of standing is even more incapable of fleeing.

The Second Interpretation: The intended meaning of Qiyam here is "to undertake the matter" or "to carry out the action" (القيام بالأمر). Thus, it means: "They could not undertake any action."

{وما كانوا منتصرين} (And they were not victorious.)

This means they could not manage to repel the attack or escape. When one is unable to do this, they would fight and exert every possible effort to defend their lives. Yet, despite this, they were not victorious.

The phrasing "they were not victorious" (ma kanu muntasarīn) is more emphatic than saying "they did not achieve victory" (ma intasaru). The verb is omitted, though its meaning is implied: "They were not victorious over anything that should have been repelled," similar to saying, "So-and-so is not helped" (la yunsar).

Then, the Almighty said:

{وقوم نوح من قبل إنهم كانوا قوما فاسقين} (And the people of Noah before them; indeed, they were a wicked people.)