When Quran talked about the People of the Ditch

I was Reading the tafseer of Surah Al Buruj ,When I came across the story of the People of Ditch .Today Many Muslims are prosecuted.They are tortured to death and burned and buried alive in regions like Rohingya, Aleppo and Madaya etc. The Muslims in these area are so oppressed and neglected that reading about them fill our eyes with tears .What really struck me after reading the story of the People of the ditch is that the People who keep their Imaan alive in face of such trials of Allah are held in high esteem in the eyes of Allah and they have been addressed in Quran.

I am writing this article with the hope that it gives glad tidings to my brothers and sisters (who are living in hard condition) that Allah cares about them. He has already talked about it in Quran . And We know from the hadiths that by the end time,the world will be full of Oppression . Let us strengthen our Imaan and pray to Allah the almighty to have mercy on the Muslims who are going through a tough time.

Lesson from the Story of the People of the Ditch

The story of the People of the Ditch is mentioned in Surah Buruj the 85th chapter of Quran. It warns the disbelievers of the evil consequences of the persecution and tyranny that they were perpetrating on the converts to Islam, and to console the believers, so as to say: “If you remain firm and steadfast against tyranny and coercion, you will be rewarded richly for it, and Allah will certainly avenge Himself on your persecutors on your behalf.”

In this connection, the story of the people of the ditch (ashab al-ukhdud) had been related, who had burnt the believers to death by casting them into pits full of fire. By means of this story the believers and the disbelievers have been taught a few lessons.

First, that just as the people of the ditch became worthy of Allah’s curse and punishment, so are the oppressors also becoming worthy of it.

Second, that just as the believers at that time had willingly accepted to sacrifice their lives by being burnt to death in the pits of fire instead of turning away from the faith, so also the believers now should endure every persecution but should never give up the faith.

Third, that Gods acknowledging Whom displeases the disbelievers and is urged on by the believers, is Dominant and Master of the Kingdom of the earth and heavens; He is self-praiseworthy and is watching what the two groups are striving for. Therefore, it is certain that the disbelievers will not only be punished in Hell for their disbelief but, more than that, they too will suffer punishment by fire as a fit recompense for their tyranny and cruelties.

Likewise, this also is certain that those, who believe and follow up their belief with good deeds, should go to Paradise and this indeed is the supreme success. Then the disbelievers have been warned, so as to say: “God’s grip is very severe. If you are proud of the strength of your hosts, you should know that the hosts of Pharaoh and Thamud were even stronger and more numerous. Therefore, you should learn a lesson from the fate they met. God’s power has so encompassed you that you cannot escape His encirclement, and the Qur’an that you are bent upon belying, is unchangeable: it is inscribed in the Preserved Tablet, which cannot be corrupted in any way.”

The Story of the People of the Ditch

The story of the People of Ditch is very interesting .Many events are reported concerning this story . Let us read about them-

Allah Taala mentions in the Noble Quran:

“Cursed were the People of the Ditch. Fire supplied [abundantly] with fuel, When they sat by it [the Fire]. And they witnessed what they were doing against the Believers [i.e. burning them]. They had nothing against them except that they believed in Allah, the Almighty, Worthy of all praise! The One to Whom belongs the dominion of the Heavens and the earth. And Allah is Witness over everything. Verily those who put to trial the believing men and the believing women [by torturing them and burning them] and then do not turn in Repentance [to Allah will have the torment of Hell and they will have the Punishment of the Burning Fire.” (85:4-10)

Ref : Tafseer of Surah Al Buruj and Hadeeth books .

Related Read : 6 Ways in Which We can help Aleppo

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