The Holy Quran 7:163 — Surah Al-A'raf

Arabic text

وَسْـَٔلْهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ ۙ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ

Translation

Ask them about the village (Aila-Elat) that was at the seaside; (ask them about the time) when they (the Jewish people of the village) failed to honour the Sabbath (they were prohibited from fishing on Saturdays, but failed to abide by the prohibition, as was mentioned ahead). (Ask them about the time) When their fish would be (so abundant that they were actually) visible from the surface (of the water) on Saturdays, but would not come (in such large numbers) on other days. In this manner did We test them because of their disobedience. (The temptation to fish on Saturdays tested their will- power to abide by Allaah's command. As a result, the community divided into three groups. One group violated the prohibition, a second refrained from fishing and also tried to stop the first group, whereas a third group refrained from fishing themselves but did not stop the first group.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

That is, by way of warning and rebuke, ask the Jews of your time about the story of the Jews who lived in this town, which took place in the time of Dawud ﵇. According to most mufassirs (commentators), this town means the city of “Aylah”, which lay on the shore of the Red Sea between Madyan and Tur.

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