Ashab-us-Sabt
Ashab al-Sabt (أصحاب السبت, transl. The People of the Sabbath)[1] generally refers to a group from the Banu Isra'il mentioned in the Islamic holy book, the Qur'an, in the context of violating the prohibition associated with Saturday (Sabbath). According to the Qur'anic narrative, God had forbidden them from fishing on Saturday, which was considered a day of rest in Jewish tradition. However, some members of this group attempted to circumvent the command and engaged in fishing through deceptive means. As a result of this disobedience, they were punished, and according to the Qur'an, their appearance was transformed.[2]
According to various Qur'anic exegeses and Islamic sources, this incident occurred during the time of Prophet Dawud (David), and some sources associate the event with the region near modern-day Eilat, Israel. The Shi'a exegete Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai mentions in his Tafsir al-Mizan that those among the group who tried to prevent the wrongdoing were spared from the punishment.[3]
In Judaism, the Sabbath (Shabbat) is considered the sacred day of the week, designated for rest and worship. The Islamic interpretation of the Ashab al-Sabt incident aligns with this background, highlighting the consequences of violating divine ordinances.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Qurashi Bunabi, Qamus-e-Qur'an, Vol. 3, p. 207
- ^ "The Story of the Saturday People". Islamic Knowledge. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "People of the Sabbath - wikishia". en.wikishia.net. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "Jewish religious year - Sabbath, Holidays, Shabbat | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
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