Tafsir of Ad-Dhariyat 51:59

Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51): Verse 59

فَاصْفَحْ عَنْهُمْ إِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا نَصِيبًا مِثْلَ نَصِيبِ أَصْحَابِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ

[The context is appropriate to what preceded it, because the Almighty established that whoever places himself in the position of worshipping] other than Allah is placing a thing in a place other than its proper place, thus he is unjust (ẓālim).

He said: If it is established that mankind was created for worship, then those who committed injustice by worshipping others have a destruction similar to the destruction of those who preceded them. This is because when a thing departs from the intended benefit derived from it, it is not preserved, even if it is in a place where one would normally clear it out.

Do you not see that a beast of burden that is no longer useful due to death or illness is cleared out of the stable, and food that spoils is discarded and the vessel emptied? Similarly, the disbeliever, when he commits injustice and places himself in the wrong position, departs from being beneficial, so it is fitting to clear the place of him, and destruction is due to him.

In the exegesis, there are several issues:

The First Issue: Regarding the letter Fā’ (فـ) in Faṣfaḥ (فَاصْفَحْ - So pardon them). We have already mentioned the reasoning for its connection [to the preceding verses].

The Second Issue: What is the relevance of the word dhanūb (ذَنُوبًا - a share/portion)?

One view: The punishment is poured out upon them, as if the Almighty said: "A portion [of punishment] has been set above their heads, like the portion poured above the heads of those [previous nations]."

Another view: The Arabs draw water from wells in turns (dhanūban fa-dhanūban), which was during their time of ease and comfort. Thus, it is as if the Almighty said: {Indeed, for those who have wronged there is a portion} [of the world and its delights], meaning a full measure. They will have no share in the Hereafter, just as was the case with their companions who drew their portions and left them. Under this interpretation, dhanūb is not punishment or destruction, but rather abundance of livelihood, which is more fitting for the Arabic usage.

And His saying, {so let them not ask for haste} [i.e., the punishment], means that the appointed time [for their end] will not come until the provision [of their worldly enjoyment] is exhausted.

Then He repeated what was mentioned at the beginning of the Surah:

{So woe to those who disbelieve on that Day of theirs which they are promised.}

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon our Master Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.