Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (40) Surah: Al-Kahf
فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّيٓ أَن يُؤۡتِيَنِ خَيۡرٗا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡهَا حُسۡبَانٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتُصۡبِحَ صَعِيدٗا زَلَقًا
(40) [3841]“May my Lord well give me what is better than your garden and send on it arrows[3842] from the sky and it becomes a slippery[3843] wasteland!”
[3841] Here, feeling the pinch of such a demeaning insult, he prayed in high hopes that God Almighty would reverse their lots so that both the reasons for insult and arrogance would be removed (cf. al-Saʿdī, Ibn ʿUthaymīn, Sūrat al-Kahf).
[3842] Ḥusbān (translated here as arrows) in this meaning occurs only here in the Qur’an. As such it means projectiles being sent on the garden, be they stones or fire or any form of punishment. It also means short arrows (cf. Ibn Qutaybah, Gharīb al-Qur’ān, Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-Lughah, al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt). The nature of these ‘arrows’ was not specified, whether delivered as heavy rain, a thunderbolt, locusts, hail or fire (cf. al-Rasʿanī).
It is noteworthy to consider the other meaning of the word ḥusbān which occurs twice in the Qur’an: 6: 96 and 55: 5; meaning in precise calculation. This other meaning could also be applied to this occurrence (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr). This whereby he precisely calculated affliction, specifically sent on this Denier’s garden showed him that the punishment was not of a general nature but precisely calculated for him out of all those around him to let him know for certain that it occurred because of his Denial (cf. al-Shaʿrāwī).
[3843] He prayed that his adversary would find no use for this garden, after it had been so destroyed, even for taking a stroll through (cf. al-Shaʿrāwī).
[3842] Ḥusbān (translated here as arrows) in this meaning occurs only here in the Qur’an. As such it means projectiles being sent on the garden, be they stones or fire or any form of punishment. It also means short arrows (cf. Ibn Qutaybah, Gharīb al-Qur’ān, Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-Lughah, al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt). The nature of these ‘arrows’ was not specified, whether delivered as heavy rain, a thunderbolt, locusts, hail or fire (cf. al-Rasʿanī).
It is noteworthy to consider the other meaning of the word ḥusbān which occurs twice in the Qur’an: 6: 96 and 55: 5; meaning in precise calculation. This other meaning could also be applied to this occurrence (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr). This whereby he precisely calculated affliction, specifically sent on this Denier’s garden showed him that the punishment was not of a general nature but precisely calculated for him out of all those around him to let him know for certain that it occurred because of his Denial (cf. al-Shaʿrāwī).
[3843] He prayed that his adversary would find no use for this garden, after it had been so destroyed, even for taking a stroll through (cf. al-Shaʿrāwī).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (40) Surah: Al-Kahf
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.