Transliteration:( Alam tara annahum fee kulli waadiny yaheemoon )
"Have you not seen that they wander about in every valley [221]."
This verse criticizes poets who are not guided by truth, describing them as those who wander in every valley—a metaphor for indulging in random thoughts, false ideas, and inconsistent speech. They often engage in exaggeration, mockery, prideful boasting, and contradiction—praising and insulting the same person without sincerity. Such behavior was common among the Arab poets of the time, showing that their words lacked the purpose and truth found in divine revelation.
The tafsir of Surah Ash-Shura verse 225 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Shura ayat 221 which provides the complete commentary from verse 222 through 227.
(26:225) Do you not see that they wander about in every valley[143]
143. This characteristic of the poets was just the antithesis of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) conduct and practice. Everybody knew that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said what he practiced and practiced what he said. The fact that there was complete conformity between his word and deed could not be denied by anybody. On the contrary, everyone was well aware that the poets said one thing and practiced just the opposite of it. For instance, they would express noble themes of generosity, indifference to worldly wealth, contentment and self-respect in their poetry, but, in practical life, they would turn out to be extremely stingy and cowardly, avaricious and selfish. They would find fault with others on trifles, but would themselves be involved in grave moral weaknesses.
[1068]- Speaking lies indiscriminately and praising and disparaging others according to whim.
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