Surah 77:33

By

Dr. Zohurul Hoque & Husain Nuri

 

77:33 "as if they were yellow camels."

77:33 The purpose of the imagery used in this section is to stress upon impossibility and absurdity of sinners getting entry into the paradise. The word jimalah is the plural form of jamal (lit. camel). The word sufr is plural of asfar meaning something yellow or tawny in color. Asad strongly rejected the use of camel as the imagery, instead suggested 'rope' as the intended meaning. In the Bible in Luke 18:25 the impossibility and absurdity of sinners to enter the paradise is mentioned in Jesus's word as: for it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (cf. Mark 10:25; Matthew 19:24). The same metaphor is echoed in 7:40 as door of the heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter the Garden until the camel passes through the eye of a needle. In this verse jamal means camel, not ropes. To interpret jimalah as 'ropes' or 'twisted ropes' misses, if not impossibility of the proposition, the absurdity implied in the metaphor. 

 

Source: http://www.qurancommentary.com/comm77_33.html

 

 

 

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