Surah 34

Surah 34:19

"But they said, ‘Our Lord, lengthen (the distance) between our journeys.’ They did themselves evil, so We made them legendary, and We tore them completely to pieces. Surely in that are signs indeed for every patient (and) thankful one."
The Trade of Saba* and Their Destruction Verses 34:18-19
Show Full Scripture Context (34:18-19) — 2 Verses
Verse 18

وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَبَيۡنَ ٱلۡقُرَى ٱلَّتِي بَٰرَكۡنَا فِيهَا قُرٗى ظَٰهِرَةٗ وَقَدَّرۡنَا فِيهَا ٱلسَّيۡرَۖ سِيرُواْ فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ وَأَيَّامًا ءَامِنِينَ

We set between them and the towns which We have blessed (other) towns (which are still) visible, and We measured out the traveling (distance) between them: ‘Travel among them by night and day in security!’

Verse 19

فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا بَٰعِدۡ بَيۡنَ أَسۡفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقۡنَٰهُمۡ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٖ شَكُورٖ

But they said, ‘Our Lord, lengthen (the distance) between our journeys.’ They did themselves evil, so We made them legendary, and We tore them completely to pieces. Surely in that are signs indeed for every patient (and) thankful one.

Allah tells us about the blessings which the people of Saba’ enjoyed, and the luxuries and plentiful provision which was theirs in their land, with its secure dwellings and towns which were joined to one another, with many trees, crops and fruits. When they traveled, they had no need to carry provisions or water with them; wherever they stopped, they would find water and fruits, so they could take their noontime rest in one town, and stay overnight in another, according to their needs on their journey. Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"And We placed, between them and the towns which We had blessed,"

Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Said bin Jubayr and Malik, who narrated it from Zayd bin Aslam, and Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and others - all said that this means the towns of Syria. It means they used to travel from Yemen to Syria via towns easy to be seen and connected to one another. Al-‘Awfi reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “The towns which We had blessed by putting Jerusalem among them.”

{towns easy to be seen,} meaning, clear and visible, known to travelers, so they could take their noontime rest in one town and stay overnight in another. Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"and We made the stages (of journey) between them easy"

meaning, ‘We made it in a way that met the needs of the travelers.’

Quoted Scripture
"Travel in them safely both by night and day."

means, those who travel in them will be safe both by night and by day.

Quoted Scripture
"But they said: "Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer," and they wronged themselves;"

There is a corroborating report in the Two Sahihs, where a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, says: “How amazing is the affair of the believer! Allah does not decree anything for him blit it is good for him. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks, and that is good far him; if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good far him. This is not far anyone except the believer .”

It was reported that Qatadah said:
{Verily, in this are indeed signs far every steadfast, gratefal.}

It was Mutarrif who used to say: “How blessed is the grateful, patient servant. If he is given something, he gives thanks, and if he is tested, he bears it with patience.”

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.