Al-Qur'an Surah Ash-Shams Verse 12

Mufti Taqi Usmani

when rose up the one who was most wretched of them.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

when the most wicked of them was roused ˹to kill the she-camel˺.

Ruwwad Translation Center

when the most wretched among them rose [to kill the camel].

A. J. Arberry

when the most wretched of them uprose,

Abdul Haleem

when the most wicked man among them rose [against him].

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

What time the greatest wretch of them rose up.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Behold, the most wicked man among them was deputed (for impiety).

Abul Ala Maududi

when their arch-criminal rose up in rage.

Ahmed Ali

When among them the great wretch arose,

Ahmed Raza Khan

When the most wicked among them stood up in defiance.

Ali Quli Qarai

when the most wretched of them rose up.

Ali Ünal

(Especially) when (finally) the most wicked among them (instigated by his people) rushed forward.

Amatul Rahman Omar

(It was) when the wretched-most among them arose,

English Literal

When/if its most miserable/unhappy stirred up/urged .

Faridul Haque

When the most wicked among them stood up in defiance.

Hamid S. Aziz

When the basest of them rose up

Hilali & Khan

When the most wicked man among them went forth (to kill the she-camel).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So Allah’s messenger said to them: (Leave alone) Allah’s she-camel, and (give) her (to) drink.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

When the most unfortunate of them broke forth with

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

When the basest of them broke forth

Muhammad Sarwar

when the most corrupt of them incited them (to commit evil).

Qaribullah & Darwish

when the most wicked of them broke forth,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

When their most wicked went forth.

Wahiduddin Khan

when the most wicked man among them rose up.

Talal Itani

When it followed its most wicked.

Tafsir jalalayn

when the most wretched of them, whose name was Qudr, was dispatched, [when] he hastened, in order to hamstring the she-camel with their approval.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

When their most wicked went forth.

meaning, the most wicked person of the tribe, and he was Qudar bin Salif, the one who killed the she-camel. He was leader of the tribe of Thamud, and he is the one whom Allah refers to in His saying,

فَنَادَوْاْ صَـحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَى فَعَقَرَ

But they called their comrade and he took (a sword) and killed (her). (54;29)

This man was mighty and respected among his people. He was of noble lineage and a leader who was obeyed.

This is just as Imam Ahmad recorded from `Abdullah bin Zam`ah. He said that the Messenger of Allah gave a sermon in which he mentioned the she-camel and he mentioned the man who killed her. Then he said,
إِذِ انبَعَثَ أَشْقَـهَا
(When their most wicked went forth.)

انْبَعَثَ لَهَا رَجُلٌ عَارِمٌ عَزِيزٌ مَنِيعٌ فَي رَهْطِهِ مِثْلُ أَبِي زَمْعَة

A strong and mighty man who was invincible among his tribe, like Abu Zam`ah, went forth to her.

This Hadith was recorded by Al-Bukhari in his Book of Tafsir, and Muslim in his Book of the Description of the Hellfire.

At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i both recorded it in their Sunans in their Books of Tafsir.
The Story of Salih's She-Camel

Allah then says