But they insolently defied(5021) the Command of their Lord: So the stunning noise(5022) (of an earthquake) seized them, even while they were looking on.
5021 They had already defied the order to preserve the She-camel, which was symbolical of the grazing rights of the common people: see 11:64-65 and n. 1560. They continued to flout the warnings of the prophet until the earthquake came on them with a stunning noise and buried them where they were: 7:78; and 11:67. 5022 Sa'iqah: a stunning sound like that of thunder and lightning ( 2:55 ); such a sound often accompanies an earthquake, (see 41:17, n. 4485, and 7:78 and n. 1047).