ROOT س ر ب ل

10:28; 23:105; 54:49.

Important Words:

قطران (pitch) is derived from قطر meaning, it dropped; or it dripped or fell in drops; or it flowed drop by drop. قطران means, tar or liquid pitch; what exudes from juniper or savin and from pine-tree and the like when subjected to the action of fire; قطران is used for smearing mangy camels (Lane).

Commentary:

The garment serves as a means of protection, but the garment of disbelievers in the next world shall be pitch, which means that they will have nothing to protect them from fire. Fire itself will, as it were, constitute their garment and the pitch will add to the torment.

Important Words:

اکنانا (places of shelter) is the plural of کن (kinnun) which is derived from کن (kanna). They say کن العلم فی نفسه i.e. he kept the knowledge secret in his heart.کن (kinnun) means, a place of retreat or concealment; the shelter of a wall; a thing which serves for veiling, covering or protecting (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse continues the theme of the preceding verse and enumerates some more Divine blessings, e.g., shades of trees, shelters in the mountains, trees that save men from the heat of the sun, armour that protects them in battle, etc. Disbelievers are told that all these Divine gifts and favours were bestowed upon them that they might live in peace and comfort and be grateful to God, but they have, instead, proved ungrateful to Him and have used them to frustrate His purpose. So they shall very soon reap the consequences of their ingratitude.

The expression لعلکم تسلمون (that you may submit to Him) may also mean that you may protect and save others from harm by means of these favours. Read in this sense the sentence would mean that these blessings were bestowed upon the Meccans in order that they might protect themselves and in gratitude to God protect others from harm, but they instead made these very favours the means of oppressing others.