Quranic words: Their critical examination in connection with the punishment divinely meted out to those who profaned the Sabbath (III)
In this second instalment of the above article a critical examination of words is carried out to support the fact that the profaners of the Sabbath were turned into literal apes.
One of the standards for an accurate interpretation of the Holy Quran is knowledge of Arabic, the language of the Holy Book. This boils down to the critical analysis of root-words, expressions and statements used by Allah, the All-Knowing, in His Holy Book. Beginning from the following verse we read: “So we said to them, ‘Be ye apes despised’. Thus we made it an example (Nakaal) for those of its time and to those who came after it, and a lesson (Mauizatan) for those who fear God’ (Quran 2:67). The statement ‘Be ye apes despised ‘’ is a command, issued by Allah, the Omnipotent. Concerning the fulfilment of Allah’s commands we read in the Quran: ‘Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is that He says concerning it, ‘’Be’’ and It comes into being’’. (Quran 36:83). In the instance of Abraham Allah, the Most Powerful, commanded the fire not to burn him in accordance with the verse: ‘Oh ye fire be thou a means of coolness and safety for Abraham ‘’ (Quran 21:70). And the fire could nor burn him which is a historically accepted fact. In the instance of Hadrat Ahmad of Ahmadiyyat this same command from the Quran was issued by Allah in connection with a man suffering from an acute form of T.B with almost all his lungs destroyed by microbes, yet he recovered instantly. In short there is not a single example in the entire Quran such that Allah commanded and that thing commanded never fulfilled. So was the case with the profaners of the Sabbath who were transformed into literal apes.
The word Nakaal from Quran 2:67, meaning an exemplary punishment, derives from the root ‘’Nakala’’ meaning to punish. In whatever combination it occurs as a word the sense of physical punishment is conveyed. In the instance of a thief who steals (male or female) says Allah: ‘’ cut off the hands of both of them in retribution of their offence as an exemplary punishment (Nakaal)’’(Quran 5:39). The amputation of hands is exemplary for the fact that people will see it and learn a lesson from it, just as people saw the transformation of human beings into literal apes with their eyes, hence learnt a big lesson from it. In addition both punishments are physical leaving scars on the respective offenders, thereby serving as a constant reminder. In the instance of a metaphorical transformation into apes there was nothing physical to be observed in the change. So how could it be an exemplary punishment (Nakaal). Proponents offer the explanation that their punishment was that they began to mimick, imitate and copy others as apes do. But throughout the ages less developed nations have ever imitated or copied the advanced nations in their life style. Will that mean that those nations who copied were also transmuted metaphorically like their predecessor counter parts? Obviously not.
So you can here appreciate a weakness in the metaphorical interpretation put on the verse by others. Similarly, in the following verse we read: ‘’ So Allah seized him for the punishment (Nakaal) of the hereafter and the present world’(Quran 79:26). This verse is in connection with the Pharaoh whom Allah seized by causing him to drown in the sea as his punishment for refusing to allow the Israelites to go away from Egypt. His body is now in Cairo Museum where tourists, from all over the world, troop to see it – a perfect example of an exemplary punishment which is physical. Little wonder the Quran here as well uses the same word “Nakaal”. If therefore the same word is used in connection with those who profaned the Sabbath then it suggests that they were physically punished with transformation into literal apes. Another verse is as follows: ‘’Surely, with Us are heavy chains (Ankaal) and a raging fire’’ (Quran 73:13). Meaning that those punished in hell shall be chained and then burnt in it. The chain is Ankaal, the singular is Nikil and is derived from ‘Nakala’, meaning to punish, just as Nakaal(Exemplary punishment ) is also derived from Nakala used for the mutation into apes and the amputation of the hands of thieves respectively. Another example is also in the verse: ‘’Allah is stronger in might and stronger in inflicting punishment (Tankiil) ‘’(Quran 4:85). Stronger in inflicting punishment is Tankiil, which word also derives from Nakala. Hence carries the basic meaning of physical punishment meted out to offenders.
In short all that I wish to convey is that in whatever form the root –word Nakala assumes, the sense of physical punishment is conveyed and not metaphorical . These words include:’’Nakaal, Nikil, Tankiil etc. Thus supporting the fact that if Nakaal (Exemplary punishment) is used in the Quran to describe the transformation into apes then the transformation was literal and not metaphorical.
Another word that strongly suggests that the transformation was literal is ‘’Ba’iis’’ that occurs in the verse:’’ And we seized the transgressors with a severe punishment (Quran 7:166). The ‘’severe punishment ‘’ is Azaab Ba’iis.’’ ‘’Ba’iis’’ derives from ‘’Ba’isa’’, to be unlucky to be unfortunate. The expressions ‘’Bi’sa’’ therefore means evil and very bad. It is used severally in the Quran to describe the hell punishment.
Eg.’’Bisa Al-Mihad ‘’(3:13), means hell is an evil place of rest. If therefore the profaners are described in such terms using. ‘Ba’iis’’(very bad or very severe) then it indicates that their punishment was as severe as the punishment of hellish life. Transformation of a man into an ape is actually very humiliating, painful and a very severe form of punishment!
Last but not the least is the expressions: ‘’Be ye apes despised’’. (Quran 2:67).The word despised ‘’Khaasiin’’ derives from the root ‘’Khasa’a’’, meaning to be distant, be vile, despised , be silent for shame. For example the expression ‘’Ikhsa’’ is used to drive away dogs. The use of Khaasiin’’ therefore indicate that they had lost their status as human beings and become literal apes as the Quran says.
In Quran 4:48 we read:’’ Or curse them as We cursed the people of the Sabbath’’. Abu Lahab, uncle of the Prophet, cursed the Holy Prophet as a result of which Allah in retaliation cursed him.
He died ignominiously such that his sons and relatives could not handle his body as result of death from a contagious disease.
Pharaoh, the People of Noah, the Aads, Thamud, Midian etc. all perished for the fact that Allah cursed them for rejecting their Prophets. Thus curse is synonymous with divine punishment or destruction. If Allah therefore cursed the people of the Sabbath then it means that they were physically and divinely punished like the other people and nations who were similarly cursed.
Tabari has recorded a sad incidence in his Tafsir Tabari (Commentary of Tabari) that once Ikrimah entered upon Ibn Abass who was weeping in his room over the story of the people of the Sabbath in the Quran who were transformed into apes. Only a literal transformation could make him weep and not a metaphorical. What a sad and humiliating end for a people!
The following is a list of past opinion leaders (Salaf ) who held the view that the expression ‘’Be ye apes despised ‘’ means that they were transformed into literal apes: Ibn Mas’ud (Tabari), Hanifa (Tabari), Abu Salih (Tabari ), Ibn Abass (Ibn Kathir), Qatada (Ibn Kathir), Atau Khorasani(Ibn Kathir), Abu Aaliya (Ibn Kathir), Al-Suddi (Ibn Khathir). The following commentators and scholars are also of the view that they were physically transformed into apes, Tabari, Ibn Kathir and Tha’labi, Yacut (Mujam Albduldan). In the light of all the above discussions the people of the Sabbath were divinely punished by transformation into apes for violating the Sabbath. A lesson for those who witnessed the punishment, and for those who were absence and also for future generation
BY KHALID KOFI AHMAD
