Understanding "thumma" (ثم)
Source of this article: qurananswers.me/2013/12/22/six-days-of-creation/
Summary: "Thumma" in Arabic can mean "then" or "moreover" or "and". Many falsely ascribe errors in the Quran by saying the Quran says "Thumma" which always means "then" implying a sequence of events. However, we show here that "thumma" can also mean "moreover" as well as "and".
Some have argued that the Arabic word Thumma (ثم) always means then where something follows another. This is one of the meanings of the word but is not always the case.
We find Arabic poetry testifying to this fact:
قل لمن ساد ثم ساد أبوه
ثم قد ساد قبل ذلك جده
Say to those who prevailed, thumma prevailed the father,
Thumma his grandfather has prevailed before that.[3]
Thumma in the poetry does not refer to any sequence because the father and the grandfather have been stated after the thumma whereas a son cannot come before the father or the grandfather. The better word for thumma here would be moreover.
In this poem with visual descriptions of a camel, we read:
جَنُوح دِفاق عَنْدَلٌ ثم أُفرِعَت
لَهَا كَتِفَاها في مُعَالىً مُصَعَّد
Swiftly she rolls, her cranium huge, her shoulder-blades high-hoisted to frame her lofty, raised superstructure.[4]
The translator does not use ‘then’ for ‘thumma’ and presents the poetry in a way that does not denote sequence.
The Qur’an itself testifies to this:
And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights. Thumma you took [for worship] the calf after him, while you were wrongdoers.[5]
In this verse, thumma is used but after is also used after the incident. Does this mean that there is repetition of the same thing? Definitely not. Here thumma means and rather than then. A practical example would be to say as follows:
I will wake up at six, then I will go to the office after waking up.
The ending words “… after waking up” are not required because the word then is very clear that going to office would be after waking up.
There are numerous examples of this sort in the Qur’an. A few more below:
…And if they fight you, they will show you their backs; thumma they will not be aided.[6]
Showing the backs itself means that they would not be aided and so to say that there is a sequence here where not being aided would be after showing backs would be incorrect. These two are simultaneous.
If one feels that this is not a direct explanation of the word thumma and is rather an interpretation, then the more direct ones should satisfy this misconception:
There is not upon those who believe and do righteousness [any] blame concerning what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allah and believe and do righteous deeds, and thumma fear Allah and believe, and thumma fear Allah and do good; and Allah loves the doers of good.[7]
Fear of Allah is a command of Allah that is to be followed always without any sequence. It would be incorrect to say that one should believe and do righteous deeds and then fear Allah. Fear of Allah is something that is simultaneous to believing and doing righteous deeds. Thumma here should better be translated as moreover instead of then.
Another more direct and clear meaning verse is as follows:
Say, “Travel through the land; thumma observe how was the end of the deniers.”[8]
How would one travel through the land and then observe? This verse is the most clear when it comes to understanding other proper meaning of the word thumma. Observing would be an act that would be conducted along with travelling.
Another verse that clarifies other meanings of thumma is as follows:
Thumma We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord they would believe.[9]
In the context, the previous discussion is with Prophet Muhammad –may Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon him. So to say then the scripture was given to Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) would not be suitable and hence a better translation would be and instead of then.
And We have certainly created you (khalaqnaakum), [O Mankind], and given you [human] form. Thumma We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was not of those who prostrated.[10]
Khalaqnaakum is a plural word which would mean that ‘created you’ is for mankind and not just Adam (عليه السلام). If it was just Adam (عليه السلام), then one could say that the prostration order was then but since it refers to mankind and prostrating order had been given before creating mankind, then is not much applicable and moreover makes more sense here.
Another very clear verse is as follows:
Thumma eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you].” There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.[11]
The preceding verse speaks of inspiration to the bee. If there was a sequence with thumma here, then eating of fruits would have to be after the inspiration. This way a person would have to eat after the inspiration to the bee. This proves that thumma is not always then and here it is and.
Thumma, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein.[12]
Have you not considered your Lord – how He extends the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Thumma We made the sun for it an indication.[13]
Allah would not know something after it has happened. He already knows and always knows. Another simple point is that a shadow is because of the sun and not vice versa. How can sun be made an indication after the shadow? This indicates that thumma does not necessarily have a sequence and can be simultaneous and or moreover.
--------
It should also be stated that you can use "thumma" and "wa" (arabic word for "and") interchangeably especially to improve the flow and structure of the sentence. For example, oftentimes in English, rather than repeating the same word, we can use in its place a synonym or a synonymous phrase in order to better enhance flow and how the sentence sounds. Likewise, the Quran could do the same by placing in "thumma" in some sentences to replace "wa" for better sentence structure and flow (or to get the specific desired sentence structure and flow).
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Indeed, Allah knows best.
[1] Qur’an 7:54, 10:3, 11:7, 25:59 and 32:4
[2] Tafsir Maududi Surah 41
[3] See Tafsir Ibn Kathir (1/102), Ibn Hisham Al-Ansari pg. 159.
[4] Poetry by Tarafah ibn al Abd, translated by A.J. Arberry. Also see Tahrir wal Tanweer, Ibn Ashur (377-1/376)
[5] Qur’an 2:51
[6] Qur’an 3:111
[7] Qur’an 5:93
[8] Qur’an 6:11
[9] Qur’an 6:154
[10] Qur’an 7:11
[11] Qur’an 16:69
[12] Qur’an 19:70
[13] Qur’an 25:45
Summary: "Thumma" in Arabic can mean "then" or "moreover" or "and". Many falsely ascribe errors in the Quran by saying the Quran says "Thumma" which always means "then" implying a sequence of events. However, we show here that "thumma" can also mean "moreover" as well as "and".
Some have argued that the Arabic word Thumma (ثم) always means then where something follows another. This is one of the meanings of the word but is not always the case.
We find Arabic poetry testifying to this fact:
قل لمن ساد ثم ساد أبوه
ثم قد ساد قبل ذلك جده
Say to those who prevailed, thumma prevailed the father,
Thumma his grandfather has prevailed before that.[3]
Thumma in the poetry does not refer to any sequence because the father and the grandfather have been stated after the thumma whereas a son cannot come before the father or the grandfather. The better word for thumma here would be moreover.
In this poem with visual descriptions of a camel, we read:
جَنُوح دِفاق عَنْدَلٌ ثم أُفرِعَت
لَهَا كَتِفَاها في مُعَالىً مُصَعَّد
Swiftly she rolls, her cranium huge, her shoulder-blades high-hoisted to frame her lofty, raised superstructure.[4]
The translator does not use ‘then’ for ‘thumma’ and presents the poetry in a way that does not denote sequence.
The Qur’an itself testifies to this:
And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights. Thumma you took [for worship] the calf after him, while you were wrongdoers.[5]
In this verse, thumma is used but after is also used after the incident. Does this mean that there is repetition of the same thing? Definitely not. Here thumma means and rather than then. A practical example would be to say as follows:
I will wake up at six, then I will go to the office after waking up.
The ending words “… after waking up” are not required because the word then is very clear that going to office would be after waking up.
There are numerous examples of this sort in the Qur’an. A few more below:
…And if they fight you, they will show you their backs; thumma they will not be aided.[6]
Showing the backs itself means that they would not be aided and so to say that there is a sequence here where not being aided would be after showing backs would be incorrect. These two are simultaneous.
If one feels that this is not a direct explanation of the word thumma and is rather an interpretation, then the more direct ones should satisfy this misconception:
There is not upon those who believe and do righteousness [any] blame concerning what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allah and believe and do righteous deeds, and thumma fear Allah and believe, and thumma fear Allah and do good; and Allah loves the doers of good.[7]
Fear of Allah is a command of Allah that is to be followed always without any sequence. It would be incorrect to say that one should believe and do righteous deeds and then fear Allah. Fear of Allah is something that is simultaneous to believing and doing righteous deeds. Thumma here should better be translated as moreover instead of then.
Another more direct and clear meaning verse is as follows:
Say, “Travel through the land; thumma observe how was the end of the deniers.”[8]
How would one travel through the land and then observe? This verse is the most clear when it comes to understanding other proper meaning of the word thumma. Observing would be an act that would be conducted along with travelling.
Another verse that clarifies other meanings of thumma is as follows:
Thumma We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord they would believe.[9]
In the context, the previous discussion is with Prophet Muhammad –may Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon him. So to say then the scripture was given to Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) would not be suitable and hence a better translation would be and instead of then.
And We have certainly created you (khalaqnaakum), [O Mankind], and given you [human] form. Thumma We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was not of those who prostrated.[10]
Khalaqnaakum is a plural word which would mean that ‘created you’ is for mankind and not just Adam (عليه السلام). If it was just Adam (عليه السلام), then one could say that the prostration order was then but since it refers to mankind and prostrating order had been given before creating mankind, then is not much applicable and moreover makes more sense here.
Another very clear verse is as follows:
Thumma eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you].” There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.[11]
The preceding verse speaks of inspiration to the bee. If there was a sequence with thumma here, then eating of fruits would have to be after the inspiration. This way a person would have to eat after the inspiration to the bee. This proves that thumma is not always then and here it is and.
Thumma, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein.[12]
Have you not considered your Lord – how He extends the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Thumma We made the sun for it an indication.[13]
Allah would not know something after it has happened. He already knows and always knows. Another simple point is that a shadow is because of the sun and not vice versa. How can sun be made an indication after the shadow? This indicates that thumma does not necessarily have a sequence and can be simultaneous and or moreover.
--------
It should also be stated that you can use "thumma" and "wa" (arabic word for "and") interchangeably especially to improve the flow and structure of the sentence. For example, oftentimes in English, rather than repeating the same word, we can use in its place a synonym or a synonymous phrase in order to better enhance flow and how the sentence sounds. Likewise, the Quran could do the same by placing in "thumma" in some sentences to replace "wa" for better sentence structure and flow (or to get the specific desired sentence structure and flow).
--------
Indeed, Allah knows best.
[1] Qur’an 7:54, 10:3, 11:7, 25:59 and 32:4
[2] Tafsir Maududi Surah 41
[3] See Tafsir Ibn Kathir (1/102), Ibn Hisham Al-Ansari pg. 159.
[4] Poetry by Tarafah ibn al Abd, translated by A.J. Arberry. Also see Tahrir wal Tanweer, Ibn Ashur (377-1/376)
[5] Qur’an 2:51
[6] Qur’an 3:111
[7] Qur’an 5:93
[8] Qur’an 6:11
[9] Qur’an 6:154
[10] Qur’an 7:11
[11] Qur’an 16:69
[12] Qur’an 19:70
[13] Qur’an 25:45
