The Majestic Quran

53 Ahqaf , from which the chapter takes its name, refers to the sand dunes in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, where the empty quarter is north of Yemen. The modern cities of Tarim and Hadramaut are in this area. 54 Abdullah ibn Masud said “the Prophet was reading the Quran at Batan-Nakhla when a group of Jinn came; they listened quietly” (Jalalain). Batan-Nakhla is a place south of Makka near Taif. 55 Ulul azm literally means “people of determination and resolve”, referring to the resilience and the patience of the prophets in response to fierce persecution.