The letter ‘ lam ’ (لَ ) in لَقَدْ laqad is employed for taking an oath.

The letter ‘ lam ’ (لَ ) in لَقَدْ laqad is employed for taking an oath. And since the particle قَدْ ‘ qad ’ here appears before a past tense verb ‘azhumat ( is great ), it denotes emphasis. Hence laqad ‘azhumat would mean ‘By Allah, surely great has been...’. The origin of the word ‘ raziyya ’ (رَزِيَّة) is the word razi’a (رَزِيْئَة) with a hamza (ء) after the letter ya ’. Some have merely translated it as a calamity. However, it denotes a specific kind of calamity: calamity due to loss.

Al-Kashani in his commentary says that it specifically refers to the calamity of the loss of the dear and beloved ones ^2 . However, it is also used for a calamity of loss in the general sense. Before his departure from this mortal world, the Holy Prophet (S) in his state of illness sought a paper and pen to write something very important for the Muslim Umma. An ignorant man nearby said, “Indeed pain has overtaken the Messenger of Allah, and you have the Qur`an with you.

The Book of Allah is sufficient for us”. This followed a difference of opinion among people near the Holy Prophet (S). On seeing this chaotic state of affairs, he told them to disperse from there.

Surely the calamity, a total calamity hindered the Messenger of Allah from writing for them that testament..[^3] The verb رَزَءَ raza’a or razi’a literally means ‘he lessened’ or ‘he diminished’[^4].