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Warnings from Past Nations

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Warnings from Past Nations

عِبَرُ الْأُمَمِ السَّابِقَة

In Islamic tradition, the stories of past nations (عِبَرُ الْأُمَمِ السَّابِقَة) are far more than historical anecdotes; they are profound spiritual lessons and [warnings from Allah] for humanity. The Quran frequently recounts the tales of communities like the people of Noah, Aad, Thamud, and Lot, who received divine messengers but chose to disbelieve and defy their guidance. Their ultimate destruction, as vividly described in verses such as [let not your dissension from me cause you to be struck] with similar calamities, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of arrogance and rejection of truth. These narratives invite us to reflect deeply, urging us to [proceed throughout the earth and observe how was the end of those who denied]. They highlight that while worldly might may seem formidable, it crumbles before divine justice when people persist in injustice and disbelief. The ruins of these civilizations are not just physical remnants, but powerful signs [for those of intelligence], teaching us about accountability, the fleeting nature of this world, and the eternal importance of faith and obedience to Allah's commands. They are an enduring call to introspection and moral rectification.

Quran 12 verses

قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Qad khalat min qablikum sunanum faseeroo fil ardi fanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqiba tul mukazzibeen

Similar situations [as yours] have passed on before you, so proceed throughout the earth and observe how was the end of those who denied.

تم لوگوں سے پہلے بھی بہت سے واقعات گزر چکے ہیں تو تم زمین کی سیر کرکے دیکھ لو کہ جھٹلانے والوں کا کیسا انجام ہوا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Upto this point, the text describes qualities of character that relate to the fulfillment of human rights. Following this, come qualities that relate to the rights of Allah where it has been said that true Muslims do not disobey Allah. Should they ever fall in sin under the compulsions of human weak...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: The following was revealed regarding the defeat at Uhud Ways of life have passed away before you all manner of unbelief has preceded where they have been given respite but are then seized with punishment; so travel in the land O believers and behold how was the end of those who denied the messengers...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Wisdom Behind the Losses Muslims Suffered During Uhud Allah states to His believing servants who suffered losses in the battle of Uhud, including seventy dead, قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ (137... Many similar ways (and mishaps of life) were faced before you), for the previous nations who f...

وَيَٰقَوْمِ لَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شِقَاقِىٓ أَن يُصِيبَكُم مِّثْلُ مَآ أَصَابَ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ هُودٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ صَٰلِحٍ وَمَا قَوْمُ لُوطٍ مِّنكُم بِبَعِيدٍ

Wa yaa qawmi laa yajri mannakum shiqaaqeee ai yuseebakum mislu maaa asaaba qawma Noohin aw qawma Hoodin aw qawma Saalih; wa maa qawmu Lootim minkum biba'eed

And O my people, let not [your] dissension from me cause you to be struck by that similar to what struck the people of Noah or the people of Hud or the people of Salih. And the people of Lot are not from you far away.

اور اے قوم! میری مخالفت تم سے کوئی ایسا کام نہ کرادے کہ جیسی مصیبت نوح کی قوم یا ہود کی قوم یا صالح کی قوم پر واقع ہوئی تھی ویسی ہی مصیبت تم پر واقع ہو۔ اور لوط کی قوم (کا زمانہ تو) تم سے کچھ دور نہیں

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: And O my people let not the breach with me the dispute you have with me shiqāqī ‘the breach with me’ is the subject of the verb yajrimannakum ‘make you deserve’ in which the suffixed pronoun -kum ‘you’ constitutes the first direct object the second being what follows make you deserve earn you as pun...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): وَيقَوْمِ لاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شِقَاقِى (And O my people! Let not my Shiqaq cause you) This means, "Do not let your hatred and enmity of me cause you to persist in your corruption and disbelief. If you continue this way, you will suffer the same vengeance and torment that overcame Nuh's people, Hud's...

كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّمَدْيَنَ كَمَا بَعِدَتْ ثَمُودُ

Ka-al-lam yaghnaw feehaaa; alaa bu'dal li Madyana Kamaa ba'idat Samood

As if they had never prospered therein. Then, away with Madyan as Thamud was taken away.

گویا ان میں کبھی بسے ہی نہ تھے۔ سن رکھو کہ مدین پر (ویسی ہی) پھٹکار ہے جیسی ثمود پر پھٹکار تھی

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: as if ka-an is softened in other words understand it as ka-annahum they had never dwelt there ‘Lo! Away with Midian just as Thamūd was done away with!’
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Shu` ayb's threatening of His People When the Prophet of Allah,Shu` ayb, despaired of their response to him, he said, "O mypeople اعْمَلُواْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمْ (Act according to your ability,) This means, "Act according to your current ways." This is actually a severe threat. إِنِّى عَـمِلٌ (I am a...

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 ...

وَكُلًّا ضَرَبْنَا لَهُ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلَ وَكُلًّا تَبَّرْنَا تَتْبِيرًا

Wa kullandarabnaa lahul amsaala wa kullan tabbarnaa tatbeera

And for each We presented examples [as warnings], and each We destroyed with [total] destruction.

اور سب کے (سمجھانے کے لئے) ہم نے مثالیں بیان کیں اور (نہ ماننے پر) سب کا تہس نہس کردیا

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: For each of them We struck similitudes when establishing arguments against them and We destroyed them only after warning them and each of them We ruined utterly We destroyed utterly because of their denial of the prophets sent to them.
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...

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنَ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُم مِّثْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ

Wa qaalal lazee aamana yaa qawmi inneee akhaafu 'alaikum misla yawmil Ahzaab

And he who believed said, "O my people, indeed I fear for you [a fate] like the day of the companies -

تو جو مومن تھا وہ کہنے لگا کہ اے قوم مجھے تمہاری نسبت خوف ہے کہ (مبادا) تم پر اور اُمتوں کی طرح کے دن کا عذاب آجائے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 28, it was said: يَكْتُمُ إِيمَانَهُ (who had kept his faith secret). This tells us that a person who does not declare his 'iman (faith) before people, yet remains staunch in his faith by heart, then, this person is a believer. But, it stands proved from clear textual authority (of the Qur'...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then said he who believed ‘O my people! Truly I fear for you a day like the day of the factions in other words the day of one faction being destroyed after another;
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): يقَوْمِ إِنِّى أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّثْلَ يَوْمِ الاٌّحْزَابِ (O my people! Verily, I fear for you an end like that day (of disaster) of the groups (of old)!) meaning, those of the earlier nations who disbelieved the Messengers of Allah, such as the people of Nuh, `Ad, Thamud and the disbelieving na...

فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِّلْـَٔاخِرِينَ

Faja'alnaahum salafanw wa masalal lil aakhireen

And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.

اور ان کو گئے گزرے کردیا اور پچھلوں کے لئے عبرت بنا دیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَلَمَّا آسَفُونَا (So, when they provoked our anger, - 43:55). Since Allah Almighty is pure of the states of anger and sorrow, the meaning is that their behavior caused Us to decide that they should be punished. (Ruh-ul-Ma’ ani)
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We made them a thing past salaf is the plural of sālif similar in pattern to khādim khadam that is to say a precedent as a lesson and an example for others after them that they posterity might take their predicament as a lesson and so not engage in actions similar to theirs.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Fir`awn's Address to His People and how Allah punished Him Allah tells us how Fir`awn stubbornly persisted in his rebellion and disbelief. He assembled his people and addressed them in a vainglorious fashion, boasting of his dominion over Egypt. أَلَيْسَ لِى مُلْكُ مِصْرَ وَهَـذِهِ الاٌّنْهَـرُ تَجْ...

كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ

Kazzabat qablahum qawmu Noohinw wa Ashaabur Rassi wa Samood

The people of Noah denied before them, and the companions of the well and Thamud

ان سے پہلے نوح کی قوم اور کنوئیں والے اور ثمود جھٹلا چکے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Consoling the Holy Prophet ﷺ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَأَصْحَابُ الرَّ‌سِّ وَثَمُودُ (It [ resurrection ] was rejected prior to them by the people of Nuh, and the people of Rass - 50:12). It was mentioned in the preceding verses that the infidels rejected the Prophethood of Sayyidna Muhamm...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: The people of Noah denied before them kadhdhabat has a feminine person inflection because of the feminine gender of the import of qawm ‘people’ and so did the dwellers at al-Rass — this was the name of a well around which they dwelt together with their livestock; they worshipped idols and it is said...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Reminding the Quraysh of the Destruction of earlier Disbelieving Nations Allah the Exalted warns the disbelievers of Quraysh and reminds them of the punishment and painful torment that He sent in this life on their likes, who disbelieved before them. For instance, Allah the Exalted punished the peop...

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ

Wa Ashaabul Aykati wa qawmu Tubba'; kullun kazzabar Rusula fahaqqa wa'eed

And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubba'. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.

اور بن کے رہنے والے اور تُبّع کی قوم۔ (غرض) ان سب نے پیغمبروں کو جھٹلایا تو ہمارا وعید (عذاب) بھی پورا ہو کر رہا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Dwellers of Aikah Aikah means a dense bush; wood; forest; jungle, These people resided in such a place. Holy Prophet Shu'aib (علیہ السلام) was sent to this nation. They disobeyed him and were destroyed by Divine punishment. People of Tubba' Tubba' was the title of the king of Yemen. The necessary ex...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and the dwellers in the wood a small forest — the people of Shu‘ayb — and the people of Tubba‘ — a king who ruled in Yemen; he had submitted to God and had summoned his people to the same submission to God but they denied him. Each of those mentioned denied the messengers as your tribe Quraysh have ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Reminding the Quraysh of the Destruction of earlier Disbelieving Nations Allah the Exalted warns the disbelievers of Quraysh and reminds them of the punishment and painful torment that He sent in this life on their likes, who disbelieved before them. For instance, Allah the Exalted punished the peop...

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَٰدِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ

Wa kam ahlaknaa qablahum min qarnin hum ashaddu minhum batshan fanaqqaboo fil bilaad, hal mim mahees

And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?

اور ہم نے ان سے پہلے کئی اُمتیں ہلاک کر ڈالیں۔ وہ ان سے قوت میں کہیں بڑھ کر تھے وہ شہروں میں گشت کرنے لگے۔ کیا کہیں بھاگنے کی جگہ ہے؟

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Warning the Disbelievers of the imminent Torment In the concluding sentence of verse [ 36] نَقَّبُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ (and they searched out the cities: Was there any place to escape?), the verb نَقَّبُوا naqqabu is derived from the infinitive tanqib which literally means to make a h...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And how many a generation We destroyed before them that is before the disbelievers of Quraysh We destroyed many generations of disbelievers who were mightier than these in prowess and who then searched throughout the land wondering is there any escape? for them and others from death but they found n...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Warning the Disbelievers of the imminent Torment; commanding the Prophet to pray and have Patience Allah the Exalted asks, `how many We have destroyed before these denying disbelievers' مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشاً (a generation who were stronger in power than they.) they were more numer...

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...

إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلْعِمَادِ

Iramaa zaatil 'imaad

[With] Iram - who had lofty pillars,

(جو) ارم (کہلاتے تھے اتنے) دراز قد

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: They are introduced here by the epithet: ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ (the men of tall pillars) The word ` imad' and 'amud' means 'pillar'. The people of ` Ad are mentioned as the men of tall pillars because they were very tall in stature. They were a stronger and more powerful people than any other nations. Th...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Iram — these were the former people of ‘Ād Irama is an explicative supplement or a substitution and it is treated as a diptote because it is a proper noun and feminine — of the towering ones that is to say the tall ones — the tallest one among them would reach four hundred cubits —
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah Recitation of Surat Al-Fajr in the Prayer An-Nasa'i recorded a narration from Jabir that Mu`adh prayed a prayer and a man came and joined him in the prayer. Mu`adh made the prayer long, so the man went and prayed (alone) at the side of the Masjid, and then left. When Mu`...

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