As-Saffat · Makki · ayah 119 of 182

As-Saffat 37:119

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِمَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ

“And We left for them [favorable mention] among later generations:”

Saheeh International

Essence

Allah left something resting on both brothers among all later generations, and the ayah stops just before saying what, so the listener leans forward.

A reflection

A sentence that makes you wait

This line returns four times in the surah, for Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and Harun, and Ilyas. Each time it seems to end without an object. And We left upon them among the later ones… Left what?

The commentators give two answers that turn out to be one. Early authorities say: praise that lasts. A compiled spiritual commentary argues that the thing left is the very next sentence, peace be upon Musa and Harun. It adds a detail about the listener. When you hear We left upon them among the later ones, your heart is left waiting, eager for the rest. The stop here is not a complete stop. The meaning leans into the next ayah.

The verb itself sharpens the moment. Taraka has an established, rather desolate picture: an ostrich's egg left out in the open desert, the bird walking away and not returning. Leaving is usually loss. But the lexicons record another use of the same verb. It can mean to let something stand and last, as a good name stays among later generations.

So Allah takes a word usually used for abandoning and uses it for what is never abandoned. People walk away from their dead. Allah leaves upon His prophets a greeting that keeps arriving, generation after generation. Every Muslim who says Musa, peace be upon him is part of what was left.

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.