Allah Mtukufu anasema:

Allah the Almighty says:

Hakika Sisi tumewajaribu kama tulivyowajaribu watu wa bustani, walipoapa kwamba bila shaka watayachuma matunda ya bustani hiyo asubuhi.

{Verily, We have tried them as We tried the people of the garden, when they swore to pluck the fruits of the (garden) in the morning.

Bila kusema: Insha'Allah (Ikiwa Mwenyezi Mungu atapenda). Kisha ikapita juu ya bustani hiyo adhabu (moto) kutoka kwa Mola wenu Mlezi usiku, ikaiteketeza wakati wao wamelala. Hivyo bustani ikawa nyeusi kufikia asubuhi, kama usiku wa giza kabisa (iliyoharibika kabisa). Kisha wakaitana kila mmoja na mwenzake mara tu asubuhi ilipopambazuka. Wakisema: "Nendeni kwenye shamba lenu asubuhi, ikiwa mnataka kuvuna matunda." Basi wakaondoka, wakizungumza kwa sauti za chini kwa siri (wakisema): Leo hakuna maskini atakayeingia kwenu humo. Wakaenda asubuhi kwa azma kubwa, wakidhani kwamba wana uwezo (wa kuzuia maskini kuchukua chochote katika matunda yake). Lakini walipoiona bustani, wakasema:

Without saying: Insha'Allah (If Allah wills). Then there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep. So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins). Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke. Saying: "Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits." So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying): No Miskin (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today. And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom). But when they saw the (garden), they said:

"Hakika, sisi tumepotea." (Kisha wakasema): "Hapana! Kwa hakika tumenyimwa (matunda)!" Aliyekuwa bora kati yao akasema: "Je, sikukwambieni:

"Verily, we have gone astray." (Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!" The best among them said: "Did I not tell you:

"kwa nini husemi: Insha' Allah (Ikiwa Allah atapenda)." Wakasema: "Utukufu ni wa Mola wetu! Hakika sisi tumekuwa wenye kudhulumu." Kisha wakageukiana wao kwa wao, wakilaumiana. Wakasema: "Ole wetu! Hakika sisi tulikuwa wenye kupita mipaka na wenye kuasi. Pengine Mola wetu atatupa badala yake bustani bora kuliko hii. Hakika sisi tunamrudia Mola wetu (tukitaka wema, ili Yeye atusamehe dhambi zetu na atutuze Akhera). Hivyo ndivyo adhabu (ya duniani), lakini hakika adhabu ya Akhera ni kubwa zaidi, lau wangalijua}. (Al-Qalam, 17-33)

why say you not: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills)." They said: "Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been Zalimun (wrong-doers)." Then they turned one against another, blaming. They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghun (transgressors and disobedient). We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this. Truly, we turn to our Lord (wishing for good that He may forgive our sins and reward us in the Hereafter). Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew}. (Al-Qalam, 17- 33)

Huu ni mfano uliowekwa na Allah Mtukufu kwa washirikina wa Quraish, kwani Yeye aliwaneemesha kwa kuwatumia Mtume mtukufu na mkuu, Muhammad ﷺ, lakini wakamkadhibisha na kukataa aliyowaletea. Allah Mtukufu anasema: {Je, hukuwaona wale waliobadilisha neema za Allah kuwa ukafiri (kwa kumkanusha Mtume Muhammad ﷺ na Ujumbe wake wa Uislamu), na wakawaingiza watu wao katika nyumba ya maangamizi? Jahannamu, watakamoingia kuungua, na ni makao mabaya kabisa!} (Ibrahim, 28, 29) Ibn 'Abbas (Allah amridhie) alisema: Hao ni washirikina wa Quraish, waliofananishwa na watu wa bustani iliyokuwa na matunda na mimea mbalimbali iliyoiva, na wakati wa kuvuna ukafika. Hivyo, Yeye, Utakasifu ni Wake, anasema: {Walipoapa} kwa siri {kuyachuma matunda ya (bustani)}, yaani kuyavuna; {asubuhi} ili wasionekane na mtu maskini, wala mhitaji, na kulazimika kuwapa au kuwatolea chochote katika matunda yake. Basi wakaapa hivyo bila kusema "Ikiwa Allah atapenda". Kwa hiyo Allah Mtukufu aliwafanya wasiweze, akatuma moto juu ya bustani yao ukaiteketeza wala haukuacha chochote humo. Yeye, Utakasifu ni Wake, anasema: {Kisha ikapita juu ya (bustani) balaa (moto) kutoka kwa Mola wako usiku, ikaiteketeza hali wao wamelala. Basi (bustani) ikawa nyeusi asubuhi, kama usiku wa giza kabisa (imeharibika kabisa)}.

This is an example set by Allah the Almighty for the polytheists of Quraish as He favored them with sending the honorable and great Prophet, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), but they belied him and rejected what he had brought them. Almighty Allah, says: {Have you not seen those who have changed the Blessings of Allah into disbelief (by denying Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his Message of Islam), and caused their people to dwell in the house of destruction? Hell, in which they will burn, -and what an evil place to settle in!}. (Ibrahim, 28, 29) Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: They are the polytheists of Quraish whom were likened to the people of the garden that contained various fruits and plants that were ripe and the time of their harvesting has come. Thus, He, Glory be His, says: {When they swore} secretly {to pluck the fruits of the (garden)} i.e. to harvest it; {in the morning} in order not to be seen by either a poor, or a needy and be forced to donate to or give them any of its fruits. So, they swore to this without saying "If Allah wills". Consequently, Allah the Almighty disabled them and sent over their garden fire that burnt it and left nothing thereof. He, Glory be His, says: {Then, there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep. So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins)}.

Mwenyezi Mungu Mtukufu anasema: {Basi wakaitana wao kwa wao walipopambazukiwa}, yaani waliamka asubuhi na wakaitana wao kwa wao wakisema: {Nendeni mapema kwenye shamba lenu ikiwa mnataka kuvuna matunda}, yaani nendeni mapema kwenye bustani yenu mkavune matunda kabla maskini na wahitaji hawajakujieni kuomba sadaka. Simulizi inaendelea: {Basi wakaenda wakinong'onezana kwa sauti za chini}, yaani wakizungumza kwa sauti za chini wakisemezana: {Leo asiingie kwenu humo maskini yeyote}, yaani walikubaliana juu ya hilo na wakafanya mashauriano ya pamoja kulihusu. Simulizi inaendelea: {Na wakaenda asubuhi kwa nia thabiti, wakidhani kwamba wana uwezo (wa kuzuia maskini wasichukue chochote katika matunda hayo)}, yaani walitoka kwa bidii, uwezo na nia thabiti mbaya.

Allah the Almighty says: {Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke}, i.e. they got up in the morning and they called out one to another saying: {Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits}, i.e. go early to your garden and pluck the fruits before the poor and needy persons come to ask you for charity. The story goes: {So they departed, conversing in secret low tones}, i.e. talking one to another in low tones saying: {No Miskin (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today}, i.e. they agreed upon that and made mutual consultations thereto. The story goes on: {And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom)}, i.e. they went forth with seriousness, power and strong bad intention.

Ikrimah na Ash-Shu`abi walisema: {Nao wakaenda asubuhi kwa nia thabiti}, yaani kwa hasira na nia mbaya dhidi ya maskini. {Lakini walipoiona (bustani)}, yaani walipofika kwenye bustani yao na kuona kilichokuwa kimeipata, hapo {wakasema: Hakika sisi tumepotea njia}, yaani

`Ikrimah and Ash-Shu`abi said: {And they went in the morning with strong intention}, i.e. rage and bad intention against the poor. {But when they saw the (garden)}, i.e. when they reached their garden and found what had happened to it, upon this {they said: Verily, we have gone astray}, i.e.

Tumepotea njia ya kuelekea bustani yetu wenyewe. Kisha wakasema: {Hapana! Hakika sisi tumenyimwa (matunda)!} yaani, tumeadhibiwa kwa sababu ya nia zetu mbaya, na tukanyimwa baraka ya mazao yetu.

we have lost our way to our own garden, then they said: {Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!}, i.e. we have been punished because of our bad intentions and were deprived of the blessing of our tilth.

Na, {mwenye akili zaidi miongoni mwao alisema} Ibn `Abbas (Allah amridhie), Mujahid na wengine walisema: Alikuwa mbora na mwenye msimamo wa wastani na haki kuliko wote miongoni mwao. {Je, sikukuambieni: Kwa nini hamsemi, Insha'Allah (Allah akipenda)}, ilisemwa: Ni kusema neno jema badala ya lile alilokusudia. {Wakasema: "Utukufu ni wa Mola wetu! Hakika sisi tumekuwa madhalimu (wenye kudhulumu)." Kisha wakageuziana nyuso wakilaumiana. Wakasema: "Ole wetu! Hakika sisi tumekuwa wenye kuasi (wenye kupindukia mipaka na wasiotii)}, walijuta na kuonyesha huzuni wakati wote wawili hawakuweza kuwasaidia chochote, na walikiri kosa lao la dhambi baada ya kuadhibiwa, na yote hayo yakaenda bure.

And, {the best among them said} Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him), Mujahid and others said: He was the best and the most moderate and just one among them all. {Did I not tell you: why say you not: Insha'Allah (If Allah wills)}, it was said: To say a good word instead of what you have intended. {They said: "Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been Zalimun (wrong-doers)." Then they turned one against another, blaming. They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghun (transgressors and disobedient)}, they regretted and showed sorrow when both could do them nothing, and they confessed their sinful deed after they had been punished and all that went in vain.

Ilisemwa kwamba walikuwa ndugu, na walirithi bustani hiyo kutoka kwa baba yao marehemu, aliyekuwa akitoa sana sadaka. Lakini, walipoimiliki bustani hiyo walikataa matendo ya baba yao marehemu, na walikusudia kuwanyima maskini matunda yake. Hapo, Allah Mtukufu aliwaadhibu na kuwapa adhabu kali kabisa. Kwa sababu hiyo, Allah Mtukufu aliamuru kwamba sadaka lazima itolewe kutoka kwenye matunda, na ni bora ilipwe siku ya mavuno. Anasema: {Kuleni katika matunda yake yanapoiva, lakini tolеeni haki yake (zakaa yake, kwa mujibu wa amri za Allah, sehemu ya kumi au sehemu ya ishirini) siku ya mavuno yake}. (Al-An'am, 141)

It was said: That they were brothers and they inherited that garden from their late father who used to give much and much in charity. But, when they possessed the garden they denied the acting of their late father and intended to deprive the poor of its fruits. Thereupon, Allah the Almighty punished them and gave them the severest of penalties. For this, Allah the Almighty commanded that charity must be taken out of fruits and it is preferably to be paid on the day of harvesting. He says: {Eat of their fruit when they ripen, but pay the due thereof (its Zakah, according to Allah's Orders l/lOth or 1/20th) on the day of its harvest}. (Al-An'am, 141)

Ilisemwa: Walitoka Yemen, kutoka mji unaoitwa "Darwan". Pia ilisemwa: Walitoka Abyssinia. Allah ndiye Mjuzi zaidi! Allah Mtukufu anasema: {Hivyo ndivyo adhabu yake ilivyo}, yaani kama hivi ndivyo Tunavyowaadhibu wale wanaoasi Amri Yetu na hawatoi wema kwa wahitaji miongoni mwa viumbe Wetu. {Lakini kwa hakika adhabu ya Akhera ni kubwa zaidi} kuliko ya maisha haya ya sasa, {lau wangalijua}.

It was said: They were from the Yemen, from a town called "Darwan". It was also said: They were from Abyssinia. Allah knows best! Allah the Almighty says: {Such is the punishment}, i.e. like this We punish whose who disobey Our Command and does not show kindness to the needy from among Our creatures. {But truly the punishment of the Hereafter is greater} than that of the present life {if they but knew}.

Hadithi hii inafanana na Kauli ya Allah: {Na Allah anatoa mfano wa mji ambao ulikuwa salama na wenye kuridhika; riziki yake ilikuwa ikiufikia kwa wingi kutoka kila mahali, lakini (watu wake) wakazikataa neema za Allah (kwa kutokushukuru). Basi Allah akawaonjesha njaa kali na hofu, kwa sababu ya (uovu huo, yaani kumkataa Nabii Muhammad (Amani iwe juu yake)) ambao walikuwa wakiufanya. Na hakika walikuwa wamewajia Mtume (Muhammad (Amani iwe juu yake)) miongoni mwao wenyewe, lakini wakamkanusha, basi adhabu ikawapata nao ni Dhalimun (washirikina na wakosaji)}. (An-Nahl, 112, 113) Imesemwa kwamba mfano huu ulikuwa wa watu wa Makka waliojiwekea wenyewe, na hakika hapana mgongano katika hili. Allah ndiye Mjuzi zaidi!

This story resembles Allah's Saying: {And Allah puts forward the example of a township, that dwelt secure and well-content: its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the Favors of Allah (with ungratefulness). So Allah made it taste extreme of hunger (famine) and fear, because of that (evil, i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) which they (its people) used to do. And verily, there had come unto them a Messenger (Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) from among themselves, but they denied him, so the torment overtook them while they were Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)}. (An-Nahl, 112, 113) It was said that this example was of the people of Mecca set for themselves and verily, there is no contradiction in this. Allah knows best!