Tafsir of Al-Qamar 54:45

Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon): Verse 45

{سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ} (The gathering will be defeated, and they will turn their backs.)

This verse addresses the claim of the disbelievers regarding their general strength, suggesting that each one of them could overcome the Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah Almighty clarifies their apparent weakness that encompasses them all by saying: {وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ} (and they will turn their backs).

This raises a question: Why did He say {وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ} (singular al-dubar, meaning 'the back') and not {وَيُوَلُّونَ الأَدْبَارَ} (plural al-adbār, meaning 'the backs')? Furthermore, in another place, He says: {يُوَلُّوكُمُ الأَدْبَارَ} (they will turn their backs to you) (Al 'Imran: 111), and {وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ لا يُوَلُّونَ الأَدْبَارَ} (And indeed they had already covenanted with Allah before, not to turn their backs) (Al-Ahzab: 15), and in another place: {فَلا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الأَدْبَارَ} (so do not turn your backs to them). How can the singular form be justified, and what is the difference between these contexts?

The Answer:

1. Justification for the Singular Form: The justification is straightforward. The statement "they did X" is like saying "this one did X, and that one did X, and the other one did X." In the plural context, the singular form often stands in for the multiple 'wāws' (conjunctions) in the coordinated structure. The phrase {يُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ} is equivalent to saying: "This one turns his back, and that one turns his back, and the other one turns his back," meaning every individual turns his back.

2. The Difference Between Contexts: The suitability of the singular or plural form is dictated by the context of the surrounding verses:
   • {وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ} (Here): The use of the singular form (الدُّبُرَ) indicates that in this turning away, they acted as a single entity (كنفس واحدة). No one lagged behind the group, and no one stood firm for the charge. They were like one single back in their retreat.
   • {فَلا تُوَلُّوهُمُ الأَدْبَارَ} (Prohibition): This means that every single individual among them should stand firm and not turn his back. The prohibition is not against them all turning away collectively, but rather that any one of them should not turn his back. Thus, each individual is addressed separately, and the verb is pluralized (فَلا تُوَلُّوهُم), which is only complete with the plural object (الأَدْبَارَ).
   • {وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ} (The Covenant): Similarly, this implies that each individual said, "I will stand firm and not turn my back."
   • {لَيُوَلُّنَّ الأَدْبَارَ} (Al-Hashr: 12): In this verse, the intended group is the hypocrites who promised the Jews. They were scattered, as indicated by the verse: {تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعًا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّى} (You think they are united, but their hearts are divided) (Al-Hashr: 14).
   • In this current context (Al-Qamar: 45): They were united as one front against everyone else.

[Then Allah Almighty said]:

{بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَى وَأَمَرُّ} (Rather, the Hour is their appointed time, and the Hour is more grievous and more bitter.)