place

Cities

الْمَدَائِنِ

"Cities" (الْمَدَائِنِ) in the Quran represent more than just populated areas; they are vibrant centers of human life, society, and often, power struggles. Within these urban landscapes, people gather, cultures flourish, and significant events unfold, particularly in the narratives of prophets. For instance, Pharaoh famously sent "gatherers among the cities" [7:111] to assemble his magicians for the contest with Moses, illustrating cities as hubs of administration and activity. However, cities in the Quran also serve as profound moral landscapes. They are often the primary stage for divine guidance and reckoning, where messengers are sent to their people. Tragically, many cities have faced destruction due to their inhabitants' rejection of truth, as reflected in verses like "how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon" [7:4]. The stories of these cities, such as those related in Surah Al-A'raf, are presented as lessons for us [7:101]. Yet, there is also hope, exemplified by the people of Jonah, whose collective belief saved their city from impending doom [10:98], showing the immense power of faith within a community. Thus, cities in Islamic tradition are reminders of our collective responsibility and the consequences of our choices, both individual and communal.

Quran 21 verses

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ أَكَٰبِرَ مُجْرِمِيهَا لِيَمْكُرُوا۟ فِيهَا وَمَا يَمْكُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Wa kazaalika ja'alnaa fee kulli qaryatin akaabira mujrimeehaa liyamkuroo feehaa wa maa yamkuroona illaa bi anfusihim wa maa yash'uroon

And thus We have placed within every city the greatest of its criminals to conspire therein. But they conspire not except against themselves, and they perceive [it] not.

اور اسی طرح ہم نے ہر بستی میں بڑے بڑے مجرم پیدا کئے کہ ان میں مکاریاں کرتے رہیں اور جو مکاریاں یہ کرتے ہیں ان کا نقصان انہیں کو ہے اور (اس سے) بےخبر ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Mentioned in the previous verse was that this world is a place of trial. Good deeds here are tied with some effort. This is a way laid out with hurdles. The same is true about evil deeds. They come with a web of deception laced with unending desires and their short-lived gratifications, a...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And thus in the same way that We have made the wicked folk of Mecca its leaders We have made in every city its sinners great ones that they may plot therein to impede the faith; but they plot only against themselves because the evil consequences thereof will befall them though they do not perceive t...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Evil Plots of the Leaders of the Criminals and their Subsequent Demise Allah says: Just as We appointed chiefs and leaders for the criminals who call to disbelief, hinder from the path of Allah, and oppose and defy you in your town, O Muhammad. Such was also the case with the Messengers before you, ...

وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَٰهَا فَجَآءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَٰتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ

Wa kam min qaryatin ahlaknaahaa fajaaa'ahaa baasunaa bayaatan aw hum qaaa'iloon

And how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon.

اور کتنی ہی بستیاں ہیں کہ ہم نے تباہ کر ڈالیں جن پر ہمارا عذاب (یا تو رات کو) آتا تھا جبکہ وہ سوتے تھے یا (دن کو) جب وہ قیلولہ (یعنی دوپہر کو آرام) کرتے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the statement فَلَا يَكُن فِي صَدْرِ‌كَ حَرَ‌جٌ appearing in the first verse, the address is to the Holy Prophet . ؓ and he has been told: This Qur'an is the Book of Allah sent down to you. This should not cause any constraint on your heart. The word: حَرَج (haraj) translated here as ` constraint...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: How many kam is predicative and is the direct object of the main verb ahlaknāhā ‘We have destroyed’ a city meaning its inhabitants have We destroyed have We willed its destruction! So Our might Our chastisement came upon it at night or while they slept at noon qā’ilūn al-qaylūla is a rest taken half...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Nations that were destroyed Allah said, وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـهَا (And a great number of towns We destroyed.) for defying Our Messengers and rejecting them. This behavior led them to earn disgrace in this life, which led them to disgrace in the Hereafter. Allah said in other Ayat, وَلَقَدِ ...

تِلْكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآئِهَا وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِمَا كَذَّبُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Tilkal quraa naqussu 'alaika min ambaaa'ihaa; wa laqad jaaa'at hum Rusuluhum bilbaiyinaati famaa kaanoo liyu'minoo bimaa kazzaboo min qabl; kazaalika yatba'ul laahu 'alaa quloobil kaafireen

Those cities - We relate to you, [O Muhammad], some of their news. And certainly did their messengers come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in that which they had denied before. Thus does Allah seal over the hearts of the disbelievers.

یہ بستیاں ہیں جن کے کچھ حالات ہم تم کو سناتے ہیں۔ اور ان کے پاس ان کے پیغمبر نشانیاں لے کر آئے۔ مگر وہ ایسے نہیں تھے کہ جس چیز کو پہلے جھٹلا چکے ہوں اسے مان لیں اسی طرح خدا کافروں کے دلوں پر مہر لگا دیتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The verse 101 has contained the phrase تِلْكَ الْقُرَ‌ىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنبَائِهَا "these are stories of the towns that We narrate to you." The word: نَبَا 'naba' in Arabic is used to denote some great news. With the word: مِن 'min' the verse has indicated that the events described in these ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Those towns which have been mentioned We relate to you O Muhammad (s) some of their tidings some of the stories of their peoples. Verily their messengers brought them clear proofs manifest miracles but they would not believe when these signscame to them in what they had denied disbelieved in before ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): تِلْكَ الْقُرَى نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ (Those were the towns that We relate to you) O Muhammad, مِنْ أَنبَآئِهَا (their story), and news, وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ (And there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs,) and evidences of the truth of what they brought them....

قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ

Qaalooo arjih wa akhaahu wa arsil filmadaaa'ini haashireen

They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers

انہوں نے (فرعون سے) کہا کہ فی الحال موسیٰ اور اس کے بھائی کے معاملے کو معاف رکھیے اور شہروں میں نقیب روانہ کر دیجیے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: These verses narrate the remaining part of the story of the prophet Musa (علیہ السلام) . Seeing these wonders of staves turning into serpents and making his hand emitting strong white light, the Pharaoh should have been convinced and have believed in Musa (علیہ السلام) as the logic and sense demande...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They said ‘Put him and his brother off a while postpone any decision regarding their affair and send into the towns summoners gatherers
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): أَرْجِهْ ("Put him off"), means, "delay him (for a time)." وَأَرْسِلْ فِى الْمَدَآئِنِ ("and send to the cities"), areas and provinces of your kingdom -- O Fir`awn, حَـشِرِينَ ("to collect") to gather magicians from various lands. At this time, magic was the trade of the day and it was widespread an...

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ ءَامَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَآ إِيمَٰنُهَآ إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّآ ءَامَنُوا۟ كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

Falaw laa kaanat qaryatun aamanat fanafa'ahaaa eemaanuhaaa illaa qawma Yoonusa lammaaa aamanoo kashafnaa 'anhum 'azaabal khizyi fil hayaatid dunyaa wa matta'naahum ilaa heen

Then has there not been a [single] city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them enjoyment for a time.

تو کوئی بستی ایسی کیوں نہ ہوئی کہ ایمان لاتی تو اس کا ایمان اسے نفع دیتا ہاں یونس کی قوم۔ جب ایمان لائی تو ہم نے دنیا کی زندگی میں ان سے ذلت کا عذاب دور کردیا اور ایک مدت تک (فوائد دنیاوی سے) ان کو بہرہ مند رکھا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the seventh verse (98), the heedless deniers of truth have been admonished for their failure to make the optimum use of the time of life allowed to them. There was still time for them to leave denial and contumacy. Otherwise, an ominous time was due to come when they will make Taubah but their Ta...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: If only there had been one town — meaning its inhabitants — that believed before chastisement befell it and profited by its belief — except for the people of Jonah when they believed after seeing a portent of the chastisement for they did not wait to believe until it came to pass We removed from upo...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Belief at the Time of Punishment did not help except with the People of Yunus Allah asked, `did any town from the previous nations, believe in its entirety when they received the Messengers All of the Messengers that We sent before you, O Muhammad, were denied by their people or the majority of thei...

ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّهُۥ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهَا قَآئِمٌ وَحَصِيدٌ

Zaalika min ambaaa'il quraa naqussuhoo 'alaika minhaa qaaa'imunw wa haseed

That is from the news of the cities, which We relate to you; of them, some are [still] standing and some are [as] a harvest [mowed down].

یہ (پرانی) بستیوں کے تھوڑے سے حالات ہیں جو ہم تم سے بیان کرتے ہیں۔ ان میں سے بعض تو باقی ہیں اور بعض کا تہس نہس ہوگیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: After having given this good counsel to them, he warned them of the punishment of Allah Ta` ala. He said: وَيَا قَوْمِ لَا يَجْرِ‌مَنَّكُمْ شِقَاقِي أَن يُصِيبَكُم مِّثْلُ مَا أَصَابَ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ هُودٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ صَالِحٍ ۚ وَمَا قَوْمُ لُوطٍ مِّنكُم بِبَعِيدٍ And 0 my people, let not y...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: That which is mentioned dhālika is the subject the predicate of which follows is something of the tidings of the towns which We relate to you O Muhammad (s). Some of them that is of the towns are standing only its inhabitants having been destroyed and some of them have been cut down destroyed togeth...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Lesson taken from the Destroyed Towns When Allah mentioned the story of the Prophets and what happened with them and their nations -- how He destroyed the disbelievers and saved the believers -- He goes on to say, ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنْبَآءِ الْقُرَى (That is some of the news of the (population of ) t...

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَهِىَ ظَٰلِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُۥٓ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ

Wa kazaalika akhzu Rabbika izaaa akhazal quraa wa hiya zaalimah; inna akhzahooo aleemun shadeed

And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.

اور تمہارا پروردگار جب نافرمان بستیوں کو پکڑا کرتا ہے تو اس کی پکڑ اسی طرح کی ہوتی ہے۔ بےشک اس کی پکڑ دکھ دینے والی اور سخت ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: After having given this good counsel to them, he warned them of the punishment of Allah Ta` ala. He said: وَيَا قَوْمِ لَا يَجْرِ‌مَنَّكُمْ شِقَاقِي أَن يُصِيبَكُم مِّثْلُ مَا أَصَابَ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ هُودٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ صَالِحٍ ۚ وَمَا قَوْمُ لُوطٍ مِّنكُم بِبَعِيدٍ And 0 my people, let not y...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Such like that seizing is the seizing of your Lord when He seizes the towns meaning its inhabitants while they are doing wrong by way of sins in other words nothing can avail them in any way when He seizes them. Truly His seizing is painful severe. The two Shaykhs Bukhārī and Muslim reported by way ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ (Verily, His punishment is painful (and) severe.) In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Musa said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ اللهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْه» (Verily, Allah gives respite to a wrongdoer until He seiz...

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ

Wa maa kaana Rabbuka liyuhlikal quraa bizulminw wa ahluhaa muslihoon

And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.

اور تمہارا پروردگار ایسا نہیں ہے کہ بستیوں کو جب کہ وہاں کے باشندے نیکوکار ہوں ازراہِ ظلم تباہ کردے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: It was said in the fourth verse (117) that Allah does not destroy towns and habitations unjustly while people living there are good in their ways, that is, they are believing Muslims. The sense is that the probability of injustice and oppression does not exist with Allah Ta` ala. Those destroyed des...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Yet your Lord would never destroy the towns through injustice on His part against them while their inhabitants were righteous that is believers.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): There must be a Group of People Who forbid Lewdness Allah, the Exalted, says that there should have been a group of wise people present among the past generations who called to good and forbade the evil and corruption that took place among them in the land. His statement, إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً (except a f...

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Wa maaa arsalnaa min qablika illaa rijaalan nooheee ilaihim min ahlil quraa; afalam yaseeroo fil ardi fa yanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul lazeena min qablihim; wa la Daarul Aakhirati Khairul lillazeenat taqaw; afalaa ta'qiloon

And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah; then will you not reason?

اور ہم نے تم سے پہلے بستیوں کے رہنے والوں میں سے مرد ہی بھیجے تھے جن کی طرف ہم وحی بھیجتے تھے۔ کیا ان لوگوں نے ملک میں سیر (وسیاحت) نہیں کی کہ دیکھ لیتے کہ جو لوگ ان سے پہلے تھے ان کا انجام کیا ہوا۔ اور متّقیوں کے لیے آخرت کا گھر بہت اچھا ہے۔ کیا تم سمجھتے نہیں؟

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: where it was said: وَمَا أَرْ‌سَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِ‌جَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَ‌ىٰ : It means that their thinking that it is an angel who should be the messenger and prophet of Allah and that a human being cannot occupy this station is baseless and ineffectual. Quite contr...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We did not send before you any messengers save men inspired by revelation yūhā ilayhim a variant reading has nūhī ilayhim ‘to whom We revealed’ — and not angels — from among the people of the towns the principal towns since they are more knowledgeable and wiser than the people of the desert who ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): All of the Prophets are Humans and Men Allah states that He only sent Prophets and Messengers from among men and not from among women, as this Ayah clearly states. Allah did not reveal religious and legislative laws to any woman from among the daughters of Adam. This is the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah wa...

وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ

Wa innahaa labi sabeelim muqeem

And indeed, those cities are [situated] on an established road.

اور وہ (شہر) اب تک سیدھے رستے پر (موجود) ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Learn Your Essential Lesson From Sites Ruined by Divine Punishment In verses 75 and 76: إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ ﴿75﴾ وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُّقِيمٍ ﴿76﴾ (Surely, in that there are signs for those who read signs. And surely, it [ their city ] is located on the straight road), ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And indeed they that is the cities of the people of Lot are on a road that still remains Quraysh’s route to Syria one not yet effaced so why do they not take heed from their example?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destruction of the People of Lut Allah said; فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ (So the Sayhah overtook them) This is the piercing sound that came to them when the sun rose, which was accompanied by the city being flipped upside down, and stones of baked clay (As-Sijjil) raining down upon them. The disc...

فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمَا لَبِإِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ

Fantaqamnaa minhum wa innahumaa labi imaamim mubeen

So We took retribution from them, and indeed, both [cities] are on a clear highway.

تو ہم نے ان سے بھی بدلہ لیا۔ اور یہ دونوں شہر کھلے رستے پر (موجود) ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Aikah means a dense forest. There are other views too. Some commentators say that there was a dense forest near Madyan, therefore, Aikah is actually the title of the people of Madyan. Others have said that the people of Aikah and the people of Madyan were two different people. It was afte...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So We exacted retribution from them by destroying them through extreme heat. And certainly both of them that is the cities of the people of Lot and those of the dwellers in the wood are upon a open road plain to see so will you not take heed from their example O people of Mecca?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destruction of the Dwellers of Al-Aykah, the People of Shu`ayb The Dwellers of Al-Aykah, were the people of Shu`ayb. Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah and others said that Al-Aykah refers to intertwined trees. Their evildoing included associating partners with Allah (Shirk), banditry and cheating in weights an...

وَتِلْكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَهْلَكْنَٰهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا۟ وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا

Wa tkal quraaa ahlak nahum lammaa zulamoo wa ja'alnaa limahlikihim maw'idaa

And those cities - We destroyed them when they wronged, and We made for their destruction an appointed time.

اور یہ بستیاں (جو ویران پڑی ہیں) جب انہوں نے (کفر سے) ظلم کیا تو ہم نے ان کو تباہ کر دیا۔ اور ان کی تباہی کے لئے ایک وقت مقرر کردیا تھا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The statement: وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ‌ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا (And man is the most quarrel-some of all things - 54) has been testified through a Hadith narrated by Sayyidna 'Anas ؓ in which the Holy Prophet ﷺ has been reported to have said, "On the day of Qiyamah, a man from among the disbelievers wil...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And those towns that is to say the inhabitants of those towns such as ‘Ād and Thamūd as well as others We destroyed them when they did evil when they disbelieved and We appointed for their destruction a variant reading for mahlikihim has muhlakihim a tryst.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Worst People are Those Who turn away after being reminded Allah says, `Who among My creatures does more wrong than one who is reminded of the signs of Allah then turns away from them,' i.e., ignores them and does not listen or pay attention to them. وَنَسِىَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ (forgetting wha...

وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً وَأَنشَأْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا ءَاخَرِينَ

Wa kam qasamnaa min qaryatin kannat zaalimatanw wa anshadnaa ba'dahaa qawman aakhareen

And how many a city which was unjust have We shattered and produced after it another people.

اور ہم نے بہت سی بستیوں کو جو ستمگار تھیں ہلاک کر مارا اور ان کے بعد اور لوگ پیدا کردیئے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary These verses describe the destruction of those settlements which some exegesists have taken as Fladhura' ) حضُوراء) and Qilabah (قلابہ) of Yemen. Allah Ta` ala had sent there a prophet about whose name there are different versions. Some say he was Musa Ibn Misha while others say his name ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And how many did We destroy of towns — meaning its inhabitants — that had been wrongdoing disbelieving and brought forth another people after it!
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Virtue of the Qur'an Here Allah points out the noble status of the Qur'an and urges them to recognize its worth: لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـباً فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ (Indeed, We have sent down for you a Book in which there is Dhikrukum). Ibn `Abbas said: "Honor for you." أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ (W...

فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَٰهَا وَهِىَ ظَالِمَةٌ فَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَبِئْرٍ مُّعَطَّلَةٍ وَقَصْرٍ مَّشِيدٍ

Faka ayyim min qaryatin ahlaknaahaa wa hiya zaalimatun fahiya khaawiyatun 'alaa 'urooshihaa wa bi'rim mu'at talatinw wa qasrim masheed

And how many a city did We destroy while it was committing wrong - so it is [now] fallen into ruin - and [how many] an abandoned well and [how many] a lofty palace.

اور بہت سی بستیاں ہیں کہ ہم نے ان کو تباہ کر ڈالا کہ وہ نافرمان تھیں۔ سو وہ اپنی چھتوں پر گری پڑی ہیں۔ اور (بہت سے) کنوئیں بےکار اور (بہت سے) محل ویران پڑے ہیں

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: How many a town I have destroyed ahlaktuhā a variant reading has ahlaknāhā ‘We have destroyed’ while it was doing wrong that is while its inhabitants were doing wrong by being disbelievers but now it lies fallen down collapsed on its roofs and how many a neglected well abandoned because of the death...
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...

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَمْلَيْتُ لَهَا وَهِىَ ظَالِمَةٌ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهَا وَإِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

Wa ka ayyim min qaryatin amlaitu lahaa wa hiya zaalimatun summa akhaztuhaa wa ilaiyal maseer

And for how many a city did I prolong enjoyment while it was committing wrong. Then I seized it, and to Me is the [final] destination.

اور بہت سی بستیاں ہیں کہ میں ان کو مہلت دیتا رہا اور وہ نافرمان تھیں۔ پھر میں نے ان کو پکڑ لیا۔ اور میری طرف ہی لوٹ کر آنا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: How the Day of Resurrection will be equal to one thousand years by our reckoning In this verseإِنَّ يَوْمًا عِندَ رَ‌بِّكَ كَأَلْفِ سَنَةٍ (22:47) means that one day with your Lord is like one thousand years of what you count. This verse can be interpreted in two ways. The first meaning is that the ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: To how many a town did I give respite while it was doing wrong; but then I seized it meaning I seized its inhabitants and with Me lies the journey’s end the final return.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): 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 مُوسَى (and denied was Musa.) means, despi...

وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَبَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ نَّذِيرًا

Wa law shi'naa laba'asnaa fee kulli qar yatin nazeeraa

And if We had willed, We could have sent into every city a warner.

اور اگر ہم چاہتے تو ہر بستی میں ڈرانے والا بھیج دیتے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَلَقَدْ صَرَّ‌فْنَاهُ بَيْنَهُمْ (And We have distributed it (the water) among them - 25:50). The verse says that We keep rotating the rainfall, that is, it sometimes falls in one locality and sometimes in another. Then sometimes a locality receives in one year more rain and in subsequent years les...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And had We willed We could have sent forth in every town a warner to threaten its inhabitants with God’s chastisement; instead We have sent you to the inhabitants of all towns as a warner for your reward to be a great one.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The universality of the Prophet's Message, how He was supported in His Mission and Allah's Blessings to Mankind Allah says: وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَبَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ نَّذِيراً (And had We willed, We would have raised a warner in every town.) `Calling them to Allah, but We have singled you out, O...

قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَٱبْعَثْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ

Qaalooo arjih wa akhaahu wab'as filmadaaa'ini haashireen

They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers

انہوں نے کہا کہ اسے اور اس کے بھائی (کے بارے) میں کچھ توقف کیجیئے اور شہروں میں ہرکارے بھیج دیجیئے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: أَنْ أَرْ‌سِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِي إِسْرَ‌ائِيلَ That you must send the children of Isra'i1 with us". (26:17) Bani Isra'il were the residents of Syria. They wanted to go back to their land but the Pharaoh would not let them. This way four hundred years had passed and they were living in his bondage like s...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They said ‘Put him and his brother off for a while postpone judgement of their affair and send musterers into the cities
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): After the Rational Proof, Fir`awn resorts to Force When proof had been established against Fir`awn, clearly and rationally, he resorted to using force against Musa, thinking that after this there would no further room for discussion. So he said: لَئِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ إِلَـهَاً غَيْرِى لأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِن...

فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ

Fa arsala Fir'awnu filmadaaa'ini haashireen

Then Pharaoh sent among the cities gatherers

تو فرعون نے شہروں میں نقیب راونہ کئے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: قَالُوا لَا ضَيْرَ‌ ۖ إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَ‌بِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ They said, "There is no harm. We are to return to our Lord. (26:50) When the Pharaoh threatened the magicians to kill them, and to cut their limbs and to crucify them, the magicians replied rather indifferently, the gist of their reply was, ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then Pharaoh having been informed of their night departure sent to the cities — it is said that he ruled a thousand cities and twelve thousand villages — musterers to assemble the army saying
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt After Musa stayed in Egypt for a long time, and the proof of Allah was established against Fir`awn and his chiefs, yet they were still arrogant and stubborn, then there was nothing left for them but punishment and vengeance. So Allah commanded Musa, pe...

وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ ٱلْقُرَى ٱلَّتِى بَٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا قُرًى ظَٰهِرَةً وَقَدَّرْنَا فِيهَا ٱلسَّيْرَ سِيرُوا۟ فِيهَا لَيَالِىَ وَأَيَّامًا ءَامِنِينَ

Wa ja'alnaa bainahum wa bainal qural latee baaraknaa feehaa quran zaahiratanw wa qaddamaa feehas sayr; seeroo feehaa la yaalirya wa aiyaaman aamineen

And We placed between them and the cities which We had blessed [many] visible cities. And We determined between them the [distances of] journey, [saying], "Travel between them by night or day in safety."

اور ہم نے ان کے اور (شام کی) ان بستیوں کے درمیان جن میں ہم نے برکت دی تھی (ایک دوسرے کے متصل) دیہات بنائے تھے جو سامنے نظر آتے تھے اور ان میں آمد ورفت کا اندازہ مقرر کردیا تھا کہ رات دن بےخوف وخطر چلتے رہو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 18, it was said: وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْقُرَ‌ى الَّتِي بَارَ‌كْنَا فِيهَا قُرً‌ى ظَاهِرَ‌ةً وَقَدَّرْ‌نَا فِيهَا السَّيْرَ‌ سِيرُ‌وا (And We had made towns to be seen between them and between the towns in which We had placed Our blessings, and had measured the journey between th...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We set between them between Sheba who were in Yemen and the towns which We had blessed with abundance of water and trees — these being the towns of Syria to which they used to travel for commerce — prominent towns continuous along the route from Yemen to Syria and We facilitated for travellers t...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Trade of Saba' and Their Destruction Allah tells us about the blessings which the people of Saba' enjoyed, and the luxuries and plentiful provision which was theirs in their land, with its secure dwellings and towns which were joined to one another, with many trees, crops and fruits. When they t...

فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Fa akhrajnaa man kaana feehaa minal mu'mineen

So We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers.

تو وہاں جتنے مومن تھے ان کو ہم نے نکال لیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Small pebbles of baked clay would be sent down upon them: مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَ‌بِّكَ "marked, with your Lord, for the transgressors."... 51:34), that is, pebbles conspicuously marked by Allah. Some scholars say that each stone bore the name of the person with which he was to be destroyed, and if he...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So We brought forth those in them that is in the towns of the people of Lot who were believers in order to destroy the disbelievers;
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Angels were sent to destroy the People of the Prophet Lut Allah the Exalted said about Ibrahim, peace be upon him, فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَآءَتْهُ الْبُشْرَى يُجَـدِلُنَا فِى قَوْمِ لُوطٍ - إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ - يإِبْرَهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـذَآ إ...

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِۦ فَحَاسَبْنَٰهَا حِسَابًا شَدِيدًا وَعَذَّبْنَٰهَا عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا

Wa ka ayyim min qaryatin 'atat 'an amri Rabbihaa wa Rusulihee fahaasabnaahaa hisaaban shadeedanw wa 'azzabnaahaa 'azaaban nukraa

And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.

اور بہت سی بستیوں (کے رہنے والوں) نے اپنے پروردگار اور اس کے پیغمبروں کے احکام سے سرکشی کی تو ہم نے ان کو سخت حساب میں پکڑ لیا اور ان پر (ایسا) عذاب نازل کیا جو نہ دیکھا تھا نہ سنا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary فَحَاسَبْنَاهَا حِسَابًا شَدِيدًا وَعَذَّبْنَاهَا عَذَابًا نُّكْرً‌ا (so We called them to a severe account, and punished them with an evil punishment...65:8). The severe account and evil punishment of nations mentioned in this verse refers to what will happen in the Hereafter. However, t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And how many ka’ayyin the kāf is the genitive prepositional particle which has been added to ayy ‘which’ to give the meaning of kam ‘how many’ a town — that is to say many a town meaning its inhabitants disobeyed the command of its Lord and His messengers then We called it in the Hereafter — even if...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Punishment for defying Allah's Commandments Allah the Exalted threatens those who defy His commands, deny His Messengers and contradict His legislation, by informing them of the end that earlier nations met who did the same, وَكَأِيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِ (And many a...

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