أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرَ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ
Alam yaraw kam ahlaknaa min qablihim min qarnim makkannaahum fil ardi maa lam numakkil lakum wa arsalnas samaaa'a 'alaihim midraaranw wa ja'alnal anhaara tajree min tahtihim fa ahlak naahum bizunoobihim wa anshaanaa mim ba'dihim qarnan aakhareen
Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them which We had established upon the earth as We have not established you? And We sent [rain from] the sky upon them in showers and made rivers flow beneath them; then We destroyed them for their sins and brought forth after them a generation of others.
کیا انہوں نے نہیں دیکھا کہ ہم نے ان سے پہلے کتنی امتوں کو ہلاک کر دیا جن کے پاؤں ملک میں ایسے جما دیئے تھے کہ تمہارے پاؤں بھی ایسے نہیں جمائے اور ان پر آسمان سے لگاتار مینہ برسایا اور نہریں بنا دیں جو ان کے (مکانوں کے) نیچے بہہ رہی تھیں پھر ان کو ان کے گناہوں کے سبب ہلاک کر دیا اور ان کے بعد اور امتیں پیدا کر دیں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
In previous verses, mention was made of grave consequences to be faced by those who avoid or oppose Divine commandments and prophetic teachings. In the present verses, the same deniers of the truth have been given an opportunity to learn and correct themselves by observing conditions arou...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Have they not seen in their travels to Syria and to other places how many kam is predicative and not interrogative meaning ‘many’ a generation how many a community of past communities We destroyed before them; We established them We assigned them an established place in the earth through strength an...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Threatening the Idolators for their Stubbornness
Allah states that the rebellious, stubborn polytheists will turn away from every Ayah, meaning, sign, miracle and proof that is evidence of Allah's Uniqueness and the truth of His honorable Messengers. They will not contemplate about these Ayat or car...
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْقُرُونَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا۟ وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Wa laqad ahlaknal quroona min qablikum lammaa zalamoo wa jaaa'at hum Rusuluhum bil baiyinaati wa maa kaanoo liyu'minoo; kazaalika najzil qawmal mujrimeen
And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe. Thus do We recompense the criminal people
اور تم سے پہلے ہم کئی امتوں کو جب انہوں نے ظلم کا راستہ اختیار کیا ہلاک کرچکے ہیں۔ اور ان کے پاس پیغمبر کھلی نشانیاں لے کر آئے مگر وہ ایسے نہ تھے کہ ایمان لاتے۔ ہم گنہگار لوگوں کو اسی طرح بدلہ دیا کرتے ہیں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The subject of verse 12 has been emphasized from a different angle in verse 13. It has been said: Let no one miscalculate that punishment cannot come in this world just because Allah Ta` ala gives respite to those who deny and disbelieve. The history of past peoples shows that different kinds of pun...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And indeed We have destroyed generations communities before you O people of Mecca when they did evil by way of idolatry and indeed their messengers brought them clear proofs indicating their truthfulness; but they would not believe wa-mā kānū li-yu’minū this is a supplement to zalamū ‘they did evil’...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Admonition held in the Destruction of the Previous Generations
Allah tells us about what happened to past generations when they belied the Messengers ﷺ and the clear signs and proofs the latter brought to them. Allah then made this nation successors after them. He sent to them a Messenger to tes...
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَٰثًا وَرِءْيًا
Wa kam ahlaknaa qablahum min qarnin hum ahsanu asaasanw wa ri'yaa
And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?
اور ہم نے ان سے پہلے بہت سی اُمتیں ہلاک کردیں۔ وہ لوگ (ان سے) ٹھاٹھ اور نمود میں کہیں اچھے تھے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
خَيْرٌ مَّقَامًا وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا
"Superior in respect of its place and better in respect of its assembly" - 19:73.
The infidels never relaxed their efforts to confuse and perplex the believers. They were very rich and possessed material wealth in great abundance. They had their retin...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And how many — in other words many — a generation that is a community from among the communities of the past have We destroyed before them who were superior in their possession of gear in wealth and chattel and in appearance superior as a sight ri’yan derives from the infinitive al-ru’ya. Thus in th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Disbelievers boast over Their good Fortune in the World
Allah, the Exalted, informs that when the clear, evident Ayat of Allah are recited to the disbelievers, they reject them and turn away. They say about those who believe, while boasting to them and arguing that their false religion is correc...
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هَلْ تُحِسُّ مِنْهُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِكْزًۢا
Wa kam ahlaknaa qabla hum min qarnin hal tuhissu minhum min ahadin aw tasma'u lahum rikzaa
And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?
اور ہم نے اس سے پہلے بہت سے گروہوں کو ہلاک کردیا ہے۔ بھلا تم ان میں سے کسی کو دیکھتے ہو یا (کہیں) ان کی بھنک سنتے ہو
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِكْزًا
"Or hear from them even a whisper" - 19:98.
The word means a faint, unintelligible sound such as a death-rattle. The meaning of the verse is that there have been many kings who ruled vast empires, exercised unlimited authority and lived in great splendor, but when the w...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And how many — in other words many — a generation namely how many a community from among the communities of the past We have destroyed before them for their denial of Our messengers. Can you see can you find so much as one of them or hear from them so much as the faintest sound? No indeed! So just a...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah places Love of the Righteous People in the Hearts
Allah, the Exalted, informs about His believing servants, who work righteous deeds -- deeds that He is pleased with because they are in accordance with the legislation of Muhammad -- that He plants love for them in the hearts of His righteous s...
أَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَٰكِنِهِمْ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلنُّهَىٰ
Afalam yahdi lahum kam ahlaknaa qablahum minal qurooni yamshoona fee masaakinihim; inna fee zaalika la Aayaatil li ulinnuhaa
Then, has it not become clear to them how many generations We destroyed before them as they walk among their dwellings? Indeed in that are signs for those of intelligence.
کیا یہ بات ان لوگوں کے لئے موجب ہدایت نہ ہوئی کہ ہم ان سے پہلے بہت سے لوگوں کو ہلاک کرچکے ہیں جن کے رہنے کے مقامات میں یہ چلتے پھرتے ہیں۔ عقل والوں کے لئے اس میں (بہت سی) نشانیاں ہیں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
The word ھُدٰی - (guidance) implied in the first sentence of verse 128 can refer either to the Qur'an or to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the meaning would be, "Did not the Qur'an or the Holy Prophet ﷺ direct them i.e. the people of Makkah and tell them about the nations and the societies who we...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Is it not a guidance has it not become clear to them to the disbelievers of Mecca how many kam is predicative and the object of the following ahlaknā We destroyed in other words Our frequent destruction before them of generations that is of past communities for denying messengers amid the ruins of w...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Many Nations were destroyed and in Them is a Lesson
Allah, the Exalted, says,
أَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ
(Is it not a guidance for them...) This is addressed to those who reject what the Prophet came to them with: `We destroyed those who denied the Messengers from the previous nations before them. They showed ...
وَأَصْحَٰبُ مَدْيَنَ وَكُذِّبَ مُوسَىٰ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
Wa as haabu Madyana wa kuzziba Moosaa fa amlaitu lilkaafireena summa akhaztuhum fakaifa kaana nakeer
And the inhabitants of Madyan. And Moses was denied, so I prolonged enjoyment for the disbelievers; then I seized them, and how [terrible] was My reproach.
اور مدین کے رہنے والے بھی۔ اور موسیٰ بھی تو جھٹلائے جاچکے ہیں لیکن میں کافروں کو مہلت دیتا رہا پھر ان کو پکڑ لیا۔ تو (دیکھ لو) کہ میرا عذاب کیسا (سخت) تھا
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Qur’ anic prophecy about the Rightly Guided Caliphs ( خُلفأے راشدین ) and its fulfillment
الَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ (Those who, when We give them power in the land - 22:41) In this verse the word (those) refers to those people who have been mentioned in the preceding verse: الَّذِ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and the inhabitants of Midian the people of Shu‘ayb and Moses was also denied he was denied by the native Egyptians al-qibt and not by his people the Children of Israel. In other words all of those people denied their messengers so take them these messengers as a good example of constancy. And I gra...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Consequences for the Disbelievers
Here Allah consoles His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for the disbelief of those among his people who opposed him.
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ
(And if they deny you, so did deny before them the people of Nuh) until His saying,
وَكُذِّبَ مُوس...
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ غُثَآءً فَبُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
Fa akhazat humus saihatu bilhaqqi faja'alnaahum ghusaaa'aa; fabu;dal lilqaw miz zaalimeen
So the shriek seized them in truth, and We made them as [plant] stubble. Then away with the wrongdoing people.
تو ان کو (وعدہٴ برحق کے مطابق) زور کی آواز نے آپکڑا، تو ہم نے ان کو کوڑا کرڈالا۔ پس ظالم لوگوں پر لعنت ہے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ
There is nothing but our worldly life. We die and we live and we are not to be raised again. - 23:37
This is the argument which the unbelievers advance when denying belief in the Day of Judgment. Those who deny it p...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So the Cry the Cry of chastisement and destruction seized them rightfully and they died and We made them as husks ghuthā’ is desiccated vegetation in other words We transformed them into similarly desiccated worthless things. So a far removal from mercy for the evildoing folk the denying folk.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of `Ad or Thamud
Allah tells us that after the people of Nuh, He created another nation. It was said that this was `Ad, because they were the successors of the people of Nuh. Or it was said that they were Thamud, because Allah says:
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ بِالْحَقِّ
(So, the Sayhah ove...
ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَا كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةً رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ فَأَتْبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُم بَعْضًا وَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ فَبُعْدًا لِّقَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Summa arsalnaa Rusulanaa tatraa kulla maa jaaa'a ummatar Rasooluhaa kazzabooh; fa atba'naa ba'dahum ba'danw wa ja'alnaahum ahaadees; fabu'dal liqawmil laa yu'minoon
Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe.
پھر ہم نے پے درپے اپنے پیغمبر بھیجتے رہے۔ جب کسی اُمت کے پاس اس کا پیغمبر آتا تھا تو وہ اسے جھٹلاتے تھے تو ہم بھی بعض کو بعض کے پیچھے (ہلاک کرتے اور ان پر عذاب) لاتے رہے اور ان کے افسانے بناتے رہے۔ پس جو لوگ ایمان نہیں لاتے ان پر لعنت
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
وَآوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ (and We gave them shelter on a height, a place of rest and running springs). According to Bayan-ul-Qur’ an, this verse refers to the event that a tyrant was resolute to kill Sayyidna ` Isa and his mother (علیہما السلام) right from hi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then sent We Our messengers successively read tatran or tatrā one following the other with a long interval between every two. Whenever there came to a community jā’a ummatan read pronouncing both hamzas or without pronouncing the second one between it and the wāw vowel its messenger they denied him;...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Mention of Other Nations Allah says:
ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ قُرُوناً ءَاخَرِينَ
(Then, after them, We created other generations.) meaning, nations and peoples.
مَّا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَـْخِرُونَ
(No nation can advance their term, nor can they delay it.) means, they a...
وَعَادًا وَثَمُودَا۟ وَأَصْحَٰبَ ٱلرَّسِّ وَقُرُونًۢا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ كَثِيرًا
Wa 'Aadanw Samooda wa As haabar Rassi wa quroonam baina zaalika kaseeraa
And [We destroyed] 'Aad and Thamud and the companions of the well and many generations between them.
اور عاد اور ثمود اور کنوئیں والوں اور ان کے درمیان اور بہت سی جماعتوں کو بھی (ہلاک کر ڈالا)
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
In the above verses it is mentioned that it had been the common practice of the people through the ages to rebuff the prophets and the message they had brought. In order to give weight to this assertion a few of the well known prophets are mentioned who were rejected by their people and t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention ‘Ād the people of Hūd and Thamūd the people of Sālih and the dwellers at al-Rass al-rass — the name of a ‘well’; their prophet is said to have been Shu‘ayb; although some say it was someone else. The story is that they had been sitting around it on one occasion when it collapsed beneath ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Frightening the Idolators of Quraysh
Allah threatens the idolators who denied and opposed His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ and He warns them of the punishment and painful torment He sent upon the previous nations who rejected their Messengers. Allah begins by mentioning Musa, upon him be peace, whom He sent...
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْقُرُونَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ بَصَآئِرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
Wa laqad aatainaa Moosal Kitaaba mim ba'di maaa ahlaknal quroonal oolaa basaaa'ira linnaasi wa hudanw wa rahmatal la'allahum yata zakkkaroon
And We gave Moses the Scripture, after We had destroyed the former generations, as enlightenment for the people and guidance and mercy that they might be reminded.
اور ہم نے پہلی اُمتوں کے ہلاک کرنے کے بعد موسٰی کو کتاب دی جو لوگوں کے لئے بصیرت اور ہدایت اور رحمت ہے تاکہ وہ نصیحت پکڑیں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا أَهْلَكْنَا الْقُرُونَ الْأُولَىٰ بَصَائِرَ لِلنَّاسِ (And We gave Musa, after We destroyed the earlier generations, the Book having insights for people - 28:43). The words "earlier generations" refer to the people of Nuh, Hud, Salilh, ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And verily We gave Moses the Scripture the Torah after We had destroyed the former generations the people of Noah ‘Ād Thamūd and others containing eye-openers for mankind basā’ira is a circumstantial qualifier referring to al-kitāb ‘the Scripture’ the plural of basīra which is the perceptive light o...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Blessings which Allah bestowed upon Musa
Allah tells us about the blessings which He gave His servant and Messenger Musa, the speaker, may the best of peace and blessings from his Lord be upon him, He revealed the Tawrah to him after He destroyed Fir`awn and his chiefs.
مِن بَعْدِ مَآ أَهْلَكْنَ...
أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَٰكِنِهِمْ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَٰتٍ أَفَلَا يَسْمَعُونَ
Awalam yahdi lahum kam ahlaknaa min qablihim minal qurooni yamshoona fee zaalika la aayaatin afalaa yasma'oon
Has it not become clear to them how many generations We destroyed before them, [as] they walk among their dwellings? Indeed in that are signs; then do they not hear?
کیا اُن کو اس (امر) سے ہدایت نہ ہوئی کہ ہم نے اُن سے پہلے بہت سی اُمتوں کو جن کے مقامات سکونت میں یہ چلتے پھرتے ہیں ہلاک کر دیا۔ بیشک اس میں نشانیاں ہیں۔ تو یہ سنتے کیوں نہیں
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Two conditions for the leader of any people
In the next verse (24), it was said:
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا ۖ وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ
(And We appointed leaders from among them who guided (people) under Our command, when they observed patience, and...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Or is it not an indication for them how many generations communities on account of their disbelief We destroyed before them that is to say has not Our destruction of many generations become clear to the disbelievers of Mecca amid whose dwellings they walk yamshūna is a circumstantial qualifier refer...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Learning the Lessons of the Past
Allah says: will these people who deny the Messengers not learn from the nations who came before them, whom Allah destroyed for their rejection of His Messengers and their opposition to what the Messengers brought them of the straight path No trace is left of them wh...
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ
Alam yaraw kam ahlak naa qablahum minal qurooni annahum ilaihim laa yarji'oon
Have they not considered how many generations We destroyed before them - that they to them will not return?
کیا انہوں نے نہیں دیکھا کہ ہم نے ان سے پہلے بہت سے لوگوں کو ہلاک کردیا تھا اب وہ ان کی طرف لوٹ کر نہیں آئیں گے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verses 28 and 29, it was said: وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ مِن بَعْدِهِ مِن جُندٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا كُنَّا مُنزِلِينَ إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ " (And We did not send down to his people any army from the heavens after him, nor were We (in need ) to se...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Have they — that is those inhabitants of Mecca who said to the Prophet ‘You have not been sent by God!’ Q. 1343 — not seen not come to know the interrogative is meant rhetorically as an affirmative how many kam here is predicative as opposed to interrogative in other words it is to be understood as ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Woe to the Disbelievers!
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah:
يحَسْرَةً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ
(Alas for mankind!), this means, woe to mankind! Qatadah said:
يحَسْرَةً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ
(Alas for mankind!) means, "Alas for mankind, who have neglected the command of Allah." Th...
كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ فَنَادَوا۟ وَّلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍ
Kam ahlaknaa min qablihim min qarnin fanaadaw wa laata heena manaas
How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape.
ہم نے ان سے پہلے بہت سی اُمتوں کو ہلاک کردیا تو وہ (عذاب کے وقت) لگے فریاد کرنے اور وہ رہائی کا وقت نہیں تھا
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary
The background of the revelation
The background of the revelation of the initial verses of this Surah was that Abu Talib, the uncle of the Holy Prophet ﷺ was doing his best as his guardian, despite that he had not yet embraced Islam. When he fell sick, the chiefs of the tribe of Quraish h...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: How many — in other words many — a generation a community of past communities We have destroyed before them and they cried out when the chastisement was sent down on them when it was no longer the time for escape that is to say the time was not one for fleeing the suffixed tā’ of wa-lāta is extra; t...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
وَالْقُرْءَانِ ذِى الذِّكْرِ
(By the Qur'an full of reminding.) means, by the Qur'an which includes all that is in it as a reminder and a benefit to people in this life and...
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Afalam yaseeroo fil ardi fa yanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul lazeena min qablihim; kaanoo aksara minhum wa ashadda quwwatanw wa aasaaran fil ardi famaaa aghnaa 'anhum maa kaanoo yaksiboon
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.
کیا ان لوگوں نے زمین میں سیر نہیں کی تاکہ دیکھتے جو لوگ ان سے پہلے تھے ان کا انجام کیسا ہوا۔ (حالانکہ) وہ ان سے کہیں زیادہ طاقتور اور زمین میں نشانات (بنانے) کے اعتبار سے بہت بڑھ کر تھے۔ تو جو کچھ وہ کرتے تھے وہ ان کے کچھ کام نہ آیا
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 77, it was said: فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّـهِ حَقٌّ فَإِمَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ (Therefore, be patient. Surely, the promise of Allah is true. Then, whether We show you [ in your life ] a part of the promise We are making to them, or make you die [ before they are punished ], in any case they ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Have they not travelled across the land to see the nature of the consequence for those before them? They were more powerful than them in might and in their vestiges on earth in the way of large structures and palaces. But what they used to earn did not avail them.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Lesson to be learned from what happened to Those Who Came before
Allah tells us about the nations who rejected their Messengers in ancient times. He mentioned the severe punishment they suffered despite their great strength, He mentioned the traces which they left behind in the earth and the gre...
فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Fa ahlaknaaa ashadda minhum batshanw wa madaa masalul lawwaleen
And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.
تو جو ان میں سخت زور والے تھے ان کو ہم نے ہلاک کردیا اور اگلے لوگوں کی حالت گزر گئی
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: A Preacher must not give up his preaching due to disappointment
أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ الذِّكْرَ صَفْحًا أَن كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّسْرِفِينَ (Shall we remove the advice away from you because you are a transgressing people? - 43:5) The meaning is that We will not give up advising you through the Qur'an...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So We destroyed those who were mightier than them — than your people — in prowess strength and already there passed there has been mentioned in previous verses the example of the ancients the description of how they were destroyed and thus the sequel for your people will be the same.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
حـم - تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَـبِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ
(Ha-Mim. By the manifest Book.) means, plain and clear in both wording and meaning, because it was revealed in the langu...
أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ أَهْلَكْنَٰهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
Ahum khayrun am qawmu Tubba'inw wallazeena min qablihim; ahlaknaahum innahum kaanoo mujrimeen
Are they better or the people of Tubba' and those before them? We destroyed them, [for] indeed, they were criminals.
بھلا یہ اچھے ہیں یا تُبّع کی قوم اور وہ لوگ جو تم سے پہلے ہوچکے ہیں۔ ہم نے ان (سب) کو ہلاک کردیا۔ بےشک وہ گنہگار تھے
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Story of Tubba'
أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ "Are they better or the people of Tubba? (44:37) ". The people of Tubba` have been referred to twice in the Qur'an. Here and in Surah Qaf. In both places only their name has been mentioned without recounting their chronicle. Therefore, the comme...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: God exalted be He says Are they better or the people of Tubba‘ — he was a prophet or a righteous man — and those communities before them? We destroyed because of their disbelief. In other words they are not mightier than those and yet they were destroyed; indeed they were criminals.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Refutation of Those Who deny the Resurrection
Here Allah denounces the idolators for their denial of the Resurrection and their belief that there is nothing after this life and no life or resurrection after death, which they based on the fact that their forefathers had died and had not returned. The...
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَآ أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
Wa laqad ahlaknaaa ashyaa'akum fahal mim muddakir
And We have already destroyed your kinds, so is there any who will remember?
اور ہم تمہارے ہم مذہبوں کو ہلاک کرچکے ہیں تو کوئی ہے کہ سوچے سمجھے؟
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ (Verily, We have created everything according to [ Our ] predestination...54:49). In the prepositional phrase bi-qadar, the word qadar literally denotes to 'measure' and to create something with a proper measure and proportion. It is possible for this litera...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And verily We have destroyed the likes of you the likes of you in terms of disbelief from among past communities. So is there anyone who will remember? this is an interrogative meant as an imperative that is to say ‘Remember and be admonished!’.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destination of the Criminals
Allah the Exalted states that the criminals are misguided away from the truth and engulfed in confusion, because of the doubts and uncertainty they are in. This description befits every disbeliever and innovator of all types and forms of sects. Allah the Exalted said...
أَلَمْ نُهْلِكِ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Alam nuhlikil awwaleen
Did We not destroy the former peoples?
کیا ہم نے پہلے لوگوں کو ہلاک نہیں کر ڈالا
Commentary
Ma'arif-ul-Quran: أَلَمْ نُهْلِكِ الْأَوَّلِينَ (Did We not destroy the earlier people?...77:16) It refers to the nations of ` Ad, Thamud, nation of Lut (علیہ السلام) and Fir'aun (The Pharaoh) who were destroyed because of their obstinacy.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Did We not destroy the ancients for their denial in other words We certainly destroyed them
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Call to contemplate the various Manifestations of Allah's Power
Allah says,
أَلَمْ نُهْلِكِ الاٌّوَّلِينَ
(Did We not destroy the ancients) meaning, those who rejected the Messengers and opposed what they came to them with.
ثُمَّ نُتْبِعُهُمُ الاٌّخِرِينَ
(So shall We make later generations to f...