An-Naml · Makki · ayah 57 of 93

An-Naml 27:57

فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرْنَـٰهَا مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ

“So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; We destined her to be of those who remained behind.”

Saheeh International

Essence

The twin of 7:83, but where that ayah says she 'was' of those who stayed behind, this one says 'We decreed her' so.

A reflection

'She was' and 'We decreed her'

This rescue is told almost word for word at 7:83, where its fuller treatment belongs. One word differs, and it is worth holding the two side by side.

At 7:83 the wife kānat min al-ghābirīn: she was among those who stayed behind. That is her own state, described from the outside. Here Allah says qaddarnāhā: We decreed her to be among them. The lexicons give the root of qaddarnā as measure: each thing given its exact amount and place. At 15:60 the angels put it a third way: 'We have decreed' that she is of those who stay behind.

A linguistic commentary notes that the decree falls on her staying behind. A modern commentary gives the reason. She sided with her people and was pleased with what they did. A narration-based commentary adds that she pointed them towards Lut's guests.

Read together, the tellings refuse a cheap answer. One shows her choosing. One shows Allah's measuring. Neither cancels the other. She was not dragged into the wrong camp. She had walked there long before the night of leaving.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.