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Ashabus Sabt (أَصْحَابُ السَّبْتِ) is an Arabic term that translates to "People of the Sabbath." It specifically refers to a group among the Bani Israel (Children of Israel), i.e., the Jews, who were tested by Allah regarding the sanctity of the Sabbath (Saturday). This incident is mentioned in the Qur'an, particularly in Surah Al-A'raf (7:163).
Allah had commanded the Jews to honor the Sabbath by refraining from work, including fishing, as a day of complete devotion and rest. However, a community among them, living by the sea, tried to circumvent this command by setting fishing traps on Friday and collecting the fish on Sunday. This deceptive act was a direct violation of Allah’s command and led to their severe punishment.
The Qur’anic account of Ashabus Sabt serves as a powerful moral lesson about obedience, integrity, and the consequences of disobeying divine commandments even through clever tricks. Islamic scholars frequently reference this story to highlight the importance of sincere adherence to religious laws.
Key Facts:
Ashabus Sabt refers to a group from among the Jews (Bani Israel).
“Sabt” means Saturday (Sabbath), a sacred day of rest in Jewish tradition.
They were commanded not to engage in work, especially fishing, on the Sabbath.
The community violated this by setting traps before and collecting fish afterward.
Their deception led to Allah’s punishment, transforming some of them into apes, as mentioned in the Qur'an (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:163–166).
This event serves as a warning about manipulating religious rules and insincere obedience.
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