Tafsir of Ash-Shams 91:11

Surah Ash-Shams (The Sun): Verse 11

كذبت ثمود بطغواها (Thamud denied [the truth] because of their transgression.)

Al-Farra' said: Al-Ṭughyān (transgression/excess) and al-Ṭughwā (as used here) are both verbal nouns (masdars). However, al-Ṭughwā is more similar in form to the opening words of the verses (rhyme scheme), so it was chosen for that reason. It is like al-Da‘wā (claim) derived from al-Du‘ā’ (to call/invoke).

In exegesis (Tafsir), there are two interpretations for this phrase:

1. The well-known view: They committed the act of denial because of their transgression. This is similar to saying, "He wronged me by his audacity against God, the Exalted." The meaning is that their excess and rebellion led them to deny the Messenger.

2. The second view: Al-Ṭughwā is the name of the punishment by which they were destroyed. The meaning then becomes: They denied their punishment. That is, they did not believe their Messenger regarding the punishment he warned them about. This interpretation is plausible because the linguistic meaning of Ṭughyān is exceeding the usual limit. Therefore, the punishment that afflicted them might be called Ṭughwā because it was a cry/calamity that exceeded the normal limit. Alternatively, the implied structure could be: "They denied the promised punishment, which was the one characterized by al-Ṭughwā."

This second interpretation is supported by the Almighty's saying:

{Thamud and 'Ad denied the Striking Calamity} (Al-Haqqah: 4) meaning the punishment that befell them. Then He said: {As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the Transgressing One [or the overwhelming calamity]} (Al-Haqqah: 5). He named the punishment that destroyed them Ṭāghiyah (a form related to Ṭughyān).

إذ انبعث أشقاها (When the most wretched among them rose up.)