Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:95

"And it is forbidden to a town..."

The term haram (forbidden) is used metaphorically here to mean "impossible to exist." An example of this is the Almighty’s saying: "Indeed, Allah has forbidden them to the disbelievers" (Al-A'raf: 50), meaning He has prevented them from them and refused that they should belong to them. It has been recited as hurrima, haruma, haram, and hiram.

The meaning of "We have destroyed it" is: We have decreed its destruction, or We have ordained its destruction.

The meaning of "returning" is: returning from disbelief to Islam and repentance. The meaning of the verse is: It is inconceivable that a people whom Allah has decreed to destroy would return and repent until the Hour is established. Only then will they return and say: "Woe to us! We were in neglect of this; rather, we were wrongdoers" (Al-Anbiya: 97). This means their hearts are sealed, so they remain upon their disbelief and die in that state until they see the punishment.

It has been recited as innahum (with a kasra). This requires the speech before it to be complete; therefore, one must assume an omitted element, as if it were said: "And it is forbidden for a town We have destroyed—that [return]." This refers to the righteous deeds and the effort that is appreciated and not denied, mentioned in the preceding verse. Then, it provides the reason: "For they do not return from disbelief," so how could that [return] not be impossible? The recitation with annahum (with a fatha) can also be interpreted this way: "Because they do not return."

If you ask: To what is hatta (until) attached, given that it acts as a limit, and what are the three verses? I say: It is attached to haram, and it is a limit for it, because the impossibility of their return does not cease until the Hour is established. It is the hatta after which speech is narrated. The narrated speech is the conditional sentence—that is, idha (when) and what falls within its scope. The genitive (mudaf) to Ya'juj and Ma'juj has been omitted, which is "their barrier," just as the genitive to "town" was omitted, which is "its people." It is said that it was opened (the barrier) as it was said: "We have destroyed it."

It has been recited as Ajuj. They are two tribes from the human race. It is said: "Mankind is ten parts; nine of them are Ya'juj and Ma'juj."

"And they..." refers to the people being driven to the Gathering. It is also said: They are Ya'juj and Ma'juj, who will emerge when the barrier is opened.

Al-hadab: Elevated ground. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) recited it as min kulli jadath, which means the grave. The tha' is a Hijazi dialect, and the fa' is a Tamimi dialect. It has been recited as yansilun with a damma on the sin. Nasala and asala both mean to hasten.

"And the true promise has approached; then suddenly the eyes of those who disbelieved will be staring [in horror], 'Woe to us! We were in neglect of this; rather, we were wrongdoers.'"