Ayah 51:59
فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَابِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ
“Therefore, no doubt, for those who have wronged is a large bucket (portion) like the large bucket (portion) of their companions, so, they should not seek to hasten Me”.
A visual and structured walkthrough of the language, imagery, and commentary in this ayah.
The “Dhanoob” — a brimming well-bucket
ذَنُوب in origin refers to “a large bucket that is used for drawing water from a well and is only called a ‘Dhanoob’ if it is full.”
The ayah likens the lot of wrongdoers to a full bucket — a fixed, inevitable share.
Two groups at a well
Those in Makkah are compared to a group waiting at a well; their “companions” are the nations who came before. They drink from the same source — and meet the same end.
Language points and insights
The term ذَنُوب stems from the root connected to ذَنَب (“tail”) — the bucket dangles like a tail.
From the same origin, ذَنْب (“a sin”) relates to what remains behind or follows, as the effects of sin follow a person just as a tail follows behind an animal.
Root imagery binds “bucket,” “tail,” and “sin” through what hangs behind or follows.
The ayah paints a vivid scene of allocation at a well: each party receives a full bucket — a decided portion. Those who transgress now have a bucket just like their predecessors.
If the former perished after taking their water, the same fate awaits those who follow their path.
This frames the “share” not as chance but as a measured, inevitable allotment.
“So, they should not seek to hasten Me”
This answers their taunt of hastening the punishment in mockery and ridicule.
By doing so, they were in fact mocking Allah — hence the firm response.
It also highlights that when the Messenger ﷺ speaks, he speaks from Allah; addressing him is addressing Allah — and so Allah responds.
A measured share
Most of the scholars of Tafsir interpret ذَنُوب as “a portion” or “share,” grounded in how people were given their share of water by a full bucket.
Just as past nations received their “bucket” — their share of divine retribution and punishment — so too will those who follow their path.
Subtleties tied to the well
The ayah compares what will afflict the disbelievers with a ذَنُوب (bucket) associated with the well — while their final resting place was the well of Badr, where the bodies of their leaders were thrown.
When the Prophet ﷺ stood by the well of Badr he recited:
قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا
“We have found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?” (Al-A’raf: 44)
Bucket → Well → Portion → Outcome
A cohesive thread: the measure is drawn, the share taken, the consequence follows.
Concept map: Root and meanings
ذ ن ب
Semantic tie: what dangles/follows behind.
ذَنَب tail
ذَنْب sin
ذَنُوب a full well-bucket
The portion is drawn, full and decisive.
Key takeaways
- Wrongdoers have a portion like that of former peoples; the same outcome awaits those who follow their path.
- The “bucket” frames their lot as a measured, full share — not arbitrary.
- Mockery in hastening punishment is met with a divine response: “They should not seek to hasten Me.”
- Addressing the Messenger ﷺ is addressing Allah; his speech is from Allah, and Allah responds.