Advanced search
Visit
14829
Last Updated: 2012/04/16
Summary of question
What is the meaning of Dābat al-Ardh in Surah Naml?
question
What is the meaning of verse 82 of Surah Naml? In addition, what is the meaning of Dābat al-Ardh (moving creature) in this verse?
Concise answer

The word Dābat pertains to a moving animal and it can be applied to both human beings, as well as other creatures. Now, the question remains as to what kind of animal has been mentioned in the Quranic verse, as well as its purpose. The Quran has explained this in a general manner in the following words: 'And when the word [of judgement] falls upon them, We shall bring out for them an Animal from the earth who shall speak to them that the people had no faith in Our signs.' It is evident that due to the conditions prevalent during that time and the words of the Dābat al-Ardh, the rejecters of faith will begin to regret their past, but it will be too late, for the ways of return will have been closed by that time. For the exact details and particularities of the Dābat al-Ardh, please refer to the detailed answer provided below.

Detailed Answer

The verse before verse 82 in Surah Naml speaks of the disbelievers who impatiently asked in regards to the coming of the Day of Judgment and they would ask the Prophet (s): Why are we not taken by the punishments which you have promised us? Why doesn't the Day of Judgment come? God answered them by several verses such as verse 82 in Surah Naml and spoke of several events which would take place during the end of time; the dark and painful end of the rejecters was also detailed.[1] In the following verse, God has said: 'And when the word [of judgement] falls upon them, We shall bring out for them an Animal from the earth who shall speak to them that the people had no faith in Our signs.'[2]

The meaning of the words: وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَیْهِمْ in this verse refers to the Day of Judgment and the manifestation of its signs; additionally, these are signs which will cause all those who see them to submit before them and to find certainty that the words of God are true and the Day of Judgment is near.[3]

The word Dābat means a moving animal and it can be applied to both human beings, as well as other animals.[4] Now, the question remains as to what kind of animal has been mentioned in the Quranic verse, as well as its purpose. The Quran has explained this in a general manner in the following words: 'And when the word [of judgement] falls upon them, We shall bring out for them an Animal from the earth who shall speak to them that the people had no faith in Our signs.' It is evident that due to the conditions prevalent during that time and the words of the Dābat al-Ardh, the rejecters of faith will begin to regret their past, but it will be too late, for the ways of return will have been closed by that time. Certain details and particularities have been mentioned in the books of tradition in regards to the Dābat al-Ardh and we will mention some of these below:

1- It is the opinion of one group that this creature is something that is not human, nor is it something ordinary that the people are used to.[5] Some traditions have mentioned this creature as having a strange form and they have also mentioned some of its particularities.[6]

2- It is the opinion of a second group (based on various traditions) that this creature is a human being. They also believe that it will be an extraordinary individual who will appear and be moving around much and is very active during the end of time and one of his main works will be separating the Muslims from the hypocrites and marking them.[7]

A number of the commentators have accepted this second opinion in light of various traditions which have been expressed on this verse, and, relying on certain traditions that mention it, have identified Dābat al-Ardh with Imam Ali (as).[8]

It is worth mentioning that other traditions exist on this subject and they allude to a more general meaning of the Dābat al-Ardh. In accordance to this interpretation, the Dābat al-Ardh refers to the great leaders who will rise during the end of time and separate truth from falsehood and the pious believers from the disbelievers.[9]

 

[1] Makarim Shirazi, Nasir, Tafsir Nemouneh, vol. 15, p. 547, Daar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, Tehran, 1374 (shamsi).

[2] Surah Naml, Verse 82: «إِذا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَیْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ تُکَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ کانُوا بِآیاتِنا لا یُوقِنُونَ»

[3] Tafsir Nemouneh, vol. 15, p. 547.

[4] Qurashi, Sayid Ali Akbar, Ahsan al-Hadith, vol. 1, p. 29, Bi'that Foundation, Tehran, 1377 (shamsi).

[5] Sadiqi Tehrani, Muhammad, Al-Balaagh fi Tafsir al-Quran bil-Quran, p. 384, Mu'allif Press, Qum, first edition, 1419 AH.

[6] Abu al-Futuh al-Raazi, Husayn ibn Ali, Ruwad al-Jinaan wa Rawh al-Jinan fi Tafsir al-Quran, vol. 15, p. 73, researched by: Muhammad Ja'far, Naasih, Muhammad Mahdi, The Islamic Research Foundation of the Astane Qudse Razavi, Mashad, 1408 AH.

[7] Tafsir Nemouneh, vol. 15, p. 552.

[8] Husayni Astarabadi, Sayid Sharafuddin Ali, Ta'wil al-Ayaat al-Dhaahirah, pp. 399-400, The Office of Islamic Publications of Jame'eye Modarresin, Qum, first edition, 1409 AH; Majlisi, Muhamamad Baqir, Bihaar al-Anwaar, vol. 39, p. 243, Daar Ihyaa' al-Turaath al-Arabi, Beirut, second edition, 1403 Ah.

[9] Tafsir Nemouneh, vol. 15, p. 554.

 

Question translations in other languages
Comments
Number of comments 0
Please enter the value
Example : Yourname@YourDomane.ext
Please enter the value
Please enter the value

Thematic Category

Random questions

  • What is the meaning of self-consciousness according to the Holy Quran?
    17982 Exegesis 2015/04/18
    According to the Quran, self-consciousness means realization of one's own self through nourishing or nurturing and reviving one's own inner and inborn talents and potentialities followed by a profound understanding of the realities of the universe and divine attributes. Self-consciousness has various degrees and it is of ...
  • Is there a problem in paying off one's debt in the evening or after dark?
    7251 Laws and Jurisprudence 2009/03/12
    Continue... ...
  • Will a husband and wife, after leaving this world, live together in paradise?
    14652 Traditional 2009/10/22
    The specific conditions and details of how we will live in the next world are not completely known to anyone except the infallibles (masoomeen). With this in mind the relationship between a husband and a wife is something that is related to this world and pious women are ...
  • What is the meaning of mutawatir and ma'roof traditions?
    10523 Contextual study 2014/10/01
    For information about the meaning of mutawatir traditions and its various types, see index "the criterion for verbal, spiritual and ambiguous mutawatir traditions", question 2412. Ma'ruf Hadith Different definitions have been presented for Ma'ruf tradition: 1. A ma'ruf tradition is one whose text and it is content ...
  • How can I repent from an illegitimate sexual relationship I had with one whom I planned to marry?
    9030 Laws and Jurisprudence 2010/11/22
    Zina or fornication (in Islamic terms, which is the subject of certain Islamic laws) means for a man’s penis to enter the vagina or anus of a woman until the glans is completely enveloped without the two being married or at least ‘similar to married’ (“similar to married” ...
  • Is it permissible to eat chips containing porcine enzymes?
    8238 Laws and Jurisprudence 2012/01/19
    The grand maraji’ responded to this inquiry like this:The office of the grand Ayatullah Khamenei:In the case of the question it isn't permissible.The office of the grand Ayatullah Makarem Shirazi:It isn’t permissible.The office of the grand Ayatullah Safi Golpaygani:If ...
  • Please let me how to get rid of masturbation?
    10527 Practical 2015/01/05
    Sin is like a foul-smelling swamp full of sewage; the more one sinks into it, the less he senses its smell, because he actually loses his sense of smell and can't tell that he is drowning anymore. At the same time, anytime one makes a strong decision ...
  • Is the story of the wedding of Hadrat Qasim in Karbala true or false?
    31431 تاريخ بزرگان 2012/10/01
    One of the concocted stories regarding the epic of Ashura is the story of the marriage of Qasim bin Al-Hasan (as), a story which has no basis and which has not been related by any authentic and reliable sources. In addition, such a thing is not rationally ...
  • Do my feet become najis when I walk on wet pavement that a dog has walked on?
    10868 Laws and Jurisprudence 2008/07/21
    If rainwater or any other water gathers in a ditch and is less than kur (there is a difference of opinion on what amount is exactly kur, and there are different ways of measuring it, according to Imam Khomeini, one way is that if ...
  • What is the Sunni opinion on Bilal al-Habashi?
    14612 تاريخ بزرگان 2008/07/02
    What Sunni references say about the great sahabi, Bilal, is that he was freed by Abu Bakr, a resistant believer against the tortures of the Kuffar, the Prophet's Mu'adhin, and one of the Mujahidin (soldiers) of Islam in different battles alongside the Prophet (pbuh). After the Prophet's demise, he ...

Popular