فَقالوا أَبَشَرًا مِنّا واحِدًا نَتَّبِعُهُ إِنّا إِذًا لَفي ضَلالٍ وَسُعُرٍ

For they said: ‘Are we to follow a lone human from ourselves?! Indeed then we would be in error and madness.’

EXEGESIS

Whilst the apparent meaning of fa qālū (for they said) is that the whole community of Thamūd said this, some exegetes suggest that maybe it was only the elite of the community who said this and used it as a means to spread doubt amongst the masses. This would be in line with 7:75 where the notables are explicitly mentioned: The elite of his people who were arrogant said to those who were abased – to those among them who had faith: ‘Do you know that Ṣāliḥ has been sent by his Lord?’ They said: ‘We indeed believe in what he has been sent with.’[1]

Wāḥid (lone) can mean the numerical one, i.e. they were not interested in someone who did not have supporters from among the notable figures of the community. So they regarded Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a), to be one and on his own.[2] Or it could mean one from our kind, i.e. they could not accept that a human being like them and from their own kind could receive revelation from God.

Ḍalāl (error) here means error in comparison to what they had been practicing and believing in.[3]

Suʿur (madness) (sing. saʿīr) originally means blazing fire. Saʿara and saʿʿara both mean to ignite fire as in, When hell is set ablaze (suʿʿirat) (81:12). Madness is also called saʿīr because it rages in man like the blaze of fire.[4] According to this latter meaning, the verse would mean as we have translated it: Indeed then we would be in error and madness. However, according to the first meaning the verse would read: Indeed then we would be in error and hellfire. The word has been brought in the plural form here to show continuity and intensity, regardless of which meaning is chosen.[5]

EXPOSITION

This verse describes the first reason why these people rejected their prophet. Their reasoning was based on the idea that it is not possible for an apostle of God to be a human being like them. This is a constant idea presented throughout the Quran whereby the disbelievers assume that a true apostle must be from a superior type of being such as an angel (17:94 and 64:6). In fact, the same excuse was given by the people of Mecca when they rejected Prophet Muhammad (s) (25:7).

The question that exegetes face is: what exactly was such a belief based on? Some exegetes maintain that this belief stems from conceit and arrogance, in that their egos did not allow them to accept that a fellow human could be greater than them and receive such a great position. In their minds, Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a) had no virtue or specialty that would make him greater than them and thus be deserving of such a position.[6]

For those exegetes who accept wāḥid to mean numerical oneness (as explained in the Exegesis), this verse would thus be stating that the reason why the people of Thamūd were rejecting Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a) was because he lacked supporters and was alone in his community. These people were habituated to following kings and notables in the community who had the backing of the masses and public support. Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a) was not only alone, but in fact was calling people to obey him and not to submit to the kings and rich corrupt individuals: So be wary of Allah and obey me, and do not obey the dictates of the profligate (26:150-151).[7]

According to Tehrānī, the verse succinctly presents three of their arguments, which are actually repeated throughout history:

1. It is not possible for Allah to appoint a human being as an apostle (6:91).
2. If Allah did choose a human being, then he cannot be from amongst us. He must be from a higher caste (14:10).
3. The chosen one must have some power, large numbers, or backing, and cannot be a solitary figure in the society (43:31).[8]

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

Some exegetes suggest that perhaps the phrase, Indeed then we would be in error and madness is something that the people had initially heard from Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a). Based on this, Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a) would constantly remind them to worship the one true God and forsake their idols for they are in error and hellfire, or madness. In return, they used his own words against him.[9]

According to Tehrānī, suʿur means fire but it does not refer to hellfire. Rather, they meant that if we follow this prophet then our life would become a living hell (probably due to the dictates of religion).[10]

According to Mudarrisi, an alternative explanation of wāḥid is that Prophet Ṣāliḥ (a) was calling to a religion where leadership was limited to one person, whereby in their tribal setting each group had its own leader which is thus a system that gives an opportunity for every arrogant and vicious person to fulfil his desire of leadership.[11]

[1] Mudarrisi, 14/238.
[2] Mizan, 19/79.
[3] Mudarrisi, 14/239.
[4] Amthal, 17/325.
[5] Amthal, 17/325.
[6] Amthal, 17/324.
[7] Mizan, 19/79.
[8] Furqan, 27/491.
[9] Amthal, 17/325; Maraghi, 27/90.
[10] Furqan, 27/491.
[11] Mudarrisi, 14/238.