65/77.3. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4933 — Sparks and Yellow Ropes
The Statement of Allah the Most High: "As if they were yellow camels or bundles of ropes." (V.77:33)
Hadith Tafsir of Hell’s Sparks, Al-Qasr, and Jimalatun Sufr
Sahih Bukhari : 4933
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4933
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَابِسٍ، سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ {تَرْمِي بِشَرَرٍ} كُنَّا نَعْمِدُ إِلَى الْخَشَبَةِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَذْرُعٍ وَفَوْقَ ذَلِكَ، فَنَرْفَعُهُ لِلشِّتَاءِ فَنُسَمِّيهِ الْقَصَرَ. {كَأَنَّهُ جِمَالاَتٌ صُفْرٌ} حِبَالُ السُّفْنِ تُجْمَعُ حَتَّى تَكُونَ كَأَوْسَاطِ الرِّجَالِ.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: (regarding) the explanation of"... It throws sparks as Al-Qasr ..." (V. 77:32): We used to collect logs of wood, three cubits long or longer, to store for heating purposes in winter, and we used to call it Al- Qasr, it also means a castle or a fort."As if they were Jimalatun Sufr (yellow camels or bundles of ropes)" (V.77:33): means the ropes of a ship which are made in bundles till it become as wide as men's waists.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4933In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 454USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 60, Hadith 455
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4933
This Hadith gives Ibn Abbas’s explanation of two expressions from Surah Al-Mursalat. For the words, It throws sparks as Al-Qasr, he said people used to collect logs of wood three cubits long or longer and store them for winter. They called such wood Al-Qasr, and the word can also mean a castle or fort. Then he explained Jimalatun Sufr as the ropes of ships gathered into bundles until they became as wide as men’s waists. The Hadith is a focused Quran tafsir report. It helps explain the size and image in the verse, while keeping the meaning tied to words known in the Arabic usage mentioned by Ibn Abbas.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Abbas explained Al-Qasr through the example of large stored logs.
- The report also mentions that Al-Qasr can mean a castle or fort.
- Jimalatun Sufr is explained here as bundled ship ropes.
- The Hadith teaches careful attention to Quranic words and their known meanings.
