What does Quran 38:33 mean?

Quran 38:33 (Surah Saad, Ayah 33) translates to: "[He said], "Return them to me," and set about striking [their] legs and necks."

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 38:33 from?

This ayah is from Surah Saad (The letter Saad), the 38th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 23.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 38:33?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih Muslim, Sunan an-Nasa'i, Jami` at-Tirmidhi.

What tafsir is available for Quran 38:33?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 38:33 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Historical Figures, Prophethood, Repentance.

Ayah 32

فَقَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ ٱلْخَيْرِ عَن ذِك...

38:33Saad

Ayah 34

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا سُلَيْمَٰنَ وَأَلْقَيْنَا عَلَىٰ...

رُدُّوهَا عَلَىَّ ۖ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًۢا بِٱلسُّوقِ وَٱلْأَعْنَاقِ

Ruddoohaa 'alaiya fatafiqa masham bissooqi wal a'naaq

[He said], "Return them to me," and set about striking [their] legs and necks.

Themes in this ayah

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Lessons from past peoples88

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Lessons from past peoples

38:33Ayah 188

24 ayahs in Saad are strongly about lessons from past peoples. This is one of them.

← Previous on Lessons from past peoples38:32And he said, "Indeed, I gave preference to the love of good [things] over the remembrance of my Lord until the sun disappeared into the curtain [of darkness]."Next on Lessons from past peoples →38:34And We certainly tried Solomon and placed on his throne a body; then he returned.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 38:33→

Bring them back to me! that is the horses that were displayed; and they so brought them back. Then he set about slashing with his sword their legs al-sūq is the plural of sāq and necks in other words he slaughtered them and cut off their legs as an offering of atonement to God exalted be He for having been distracted by them from the prayer. He gave all the meat thereof as voluntary alms and so God compensated him what was better and faster that these horses and this was the wind which blew at his command as he wished.

" He (commanded) to crush his head between two stones."

Sunan an-Nasa'i #4427It was narrated that Anas said:

"I saw him: - meaning the Prophet - "slaughtering them with his own hand, and placing his foot on their sides, pronouncing the name of Allah and saying: 'Allah Akbar,' (sacrificing) two horned, Amlah rams." (Sahih )

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #911Najiyah Al-Khuza'i (the Companion of the Messenger of Allah) said:Sahih

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! What should be done with the afflicted among the Hadi?' He said: 'Slaughter them, then dip their sandals in their blood, then leave them so that the people can eat them.'"

Sahih Muslim #4952Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sacrificed two horned rams of white colour with black markings over them. He also stated:Sahih

I saw him sacrificing them with his own hand and saw him placing his foot on their sides, and recited the name of Allah and Glorified Him.

Sunan an-Nasa'i #4426Anas bin Malik said:

"The Messenger of Allah used to sacrifice two pronounce the name of Allah and say: 'Allah Akabar,' and I saw him slaughtering them with his own hand, and placing his foot on their sides "(Sahih )