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Destruction of Cities

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Destruction of Cities

إِهْلَاكُ الْقُرَىٰ

The concept of "Destruction of Cities" (إِهْلَاكُ الْقُرَىٰ) in Islamic tradition refers to the historical events where Allah, in His perfect justice, brought about the downfall of communities that persistently engaged in wrongdoing and defied His messengers. These narratives, profoundly recounted in the Quran, serve as powerful reminders of divine accountability. It is emphasized that [your Lord would not destroy the cities for wrongdoing while their people were unaware], illustrating that such catastrophic ends were never arbitrary. Instead, they came as a culmination of repeated warnings and the rejection of truth, demonstrating Allah's immense patience before His ultimate justice. The Quran vividly describes [how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon], highlighting the suddenness and inescapable nature of such decrees. These stories are more than historical accounts; rather, [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]]. They offer timeless lessons for all generations, urging humanity to reflect on the consequences of arrogance, oppression, and disbelief. They reinforce the understanding that [We destroyed them when they wronged, and We made for their destruction an appointed time], underscoring Allah's perfect knowledge and the wisdom behind every divine decree. These narratives ultimately call believers to righteousness, justice, and sincere submission, reminding us of Allah's unwavering justice.

Quran 12 verses

ذَٰلِكَ أَن لَّمْ يَكُن رَّبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَٰفِلُونَ

Zaalika al lam yakkur Rabbuka muhlikal quraa bizulminw wa ahluhaa ghaafiloon

That is because your Lord would not destroy the cities for wrongdoing while their people were unaware.

(اے محمدﷺ!) یہ (جو پیغمبر آتے رہے اور کتابیں نازل ہوتی رہیں تو) اس لیے کہ تمہارا پروردگار ایسا نہیں کہ بستیوں کو ظلم سے ہلاک کر دے اور وہاں کے رہنے والوں کو (کچھ بھی) خبر نہ ہو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The third verse (131) tells us that sending prophets and messengers among human beings and the Jinn is based on the dictate of justice and mercy of Allah Ta` ala for He does not send punishment over a people unless they have been awakened through His blessed messengers and provided with the light of...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: That sending of the messengers is because an phonetically lightened with the lām of li-annahu implied thus read as li-annahu ‘because’ your Lord would never destroy the towns through injustice on their part while their inhabitants were heedless not having had any Messenger to make things clear to th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): ذَلِكَ أَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ رَّبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَـفِلُونَ (This is because your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrongdoing while their people were unaware. ) meaning: `We sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to the Jinns and mankind, so that...

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 ...

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...

وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَّعْلُومٌ

Wa maaa ahlaknaa min qaryatin illaa wa lahaa kitaabum ma'loom

And We did not destroy any city but that for it was a known decree.

اور ہم نے کوئی بستی ہلاک نہیں کی۔ مگر اس کا وقت مرقوم ومعین تھا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary From: ذَرْ‌هُمْ يَأْكُلُوا (Let them eat ...3) we can see that the making of eating and drinking the real occupation and aim of life, and keeping glued to long-drawn material plans while surrounded by countless things of worldly comfort, and becoming totally heedless to death, is somethi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We did not destroy any town min qaryatin min is extra meaning its inhabitants but that it had a known decree a pre-determined term after which it would be destroyed.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Every Township has its allotted Time Allah is informing us that He never destroys a township until He has established evidences for it and its allotted time has ended. When the time for a nation's destruction has come, He never delays it, and He never moves its appointed time forward. This was a mes...

وَإِن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًا

Wa im min qaryatin illaa Nahnu muhlikoohaa qabla Yawmil Qiyaamati aw mu'az ziboohaa 'azaaban shadeedaa; kaana zaalika fil Kitaabi mastooraa

And there is no city but that We will destroy it before the Day of Resurrection or punish it with a severe punishment. That has ever been in the Register inscribed.

اور (کفر کرنے والوں کی) کوئی بستی نہیں مگر قیامت کے دن سے پہلے ہم اسے ہلاک کردیں گے یا سخت عذاب سے معذب کریں گے۔ یہ کتاب (یعنی تقدیر) میں لکھا جاچکا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary The word 'al-wasilah' in: يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَىٰ رَ‌بِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ (seek the means of close ness to their Lord - 57) conveys the sense of that which is used as a means of reaching someone. As for reaching Allah, the wasilah or means is to always keep the pleasure of Allah in sight when ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: There is not a town — its inhabitants are the ones meant — but We shall destroy it before the Day of Resurrection through death or chastise it with terrible chastisement by killing its inhabitants or otherwise. That has been inscribed in the Book the Preserved Tablet al-lawh al-mahfūz.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destruction or Torment of all Disbelieving Towns before the Hour begins Here Allah tells us that He has decreed and it is written in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz (The Preserved Tablet) which is with Him, that there is no town that He will not destroy by wiping out all its people or by punishing them, عَذَا...

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...

مَآ ءَامَنَتْ قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَٰهَآ أَفَهُمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Maaa aaamanat qablahum min qaryatin ahlaknaahaa a-fahum yu'minoon

Not a [single] city which We destroyed believed before them, so will they believe?

ان سے پہلے جن بستیوں کو ہم نے ہلاک کیا وہ ایمان نہیں لاتی تھیں۔ تو کیا یہ ایمان لے آئیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Then in اَفَھُم یؤمِنُونَ (Will they believe?) there is a hint that there was no likelihood of these people accepting the true faith even after seeing the miracles of their choice. Hence they were not shown the desired miracle.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: No town before them ever believed — meaning none of its inhabitants — of those that We destroyed for the denial of the signs brought to them. Would they then believe? No.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah The Virtues of Surat Al-Anbiya' Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdur-Rahman bin Yazid said that `Abdullah said, "Banu Isra'il, Al-Kahf, Maryam, Ta Ha and Al-Anbiya' - they are among the earliest and most beautiful Surahs and they are my treasure." بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ ...

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...

فَمَا زَالَت تِّلْكَ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَعَلْنَٰهُمْ حَصِيدًا خَٰمِدِينَ

Famaa zaalat tilka da'waahum hattaa ja'alnaahum haseedan khaamideen

And that declaration of theirs did not cease until We made them [as] a harvest [mowed down], extinguished [like a fire].

تو وہ ہمیشہ اسی طرح پکارتے رہے یہاں تک کہ ہم نے ان کو (کھیتی کی طرح) کاٹ کر (اور آگ کی طرح) بجھا کر ڈھیر کردیا

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: So that saying remained their cry which they would make and repeat until We made them as reaped crops as crops harvested with sickles when they were killed with the sword stilled dead like the stillness of fire when it is extinguished.
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...

وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ

Wa maaa ahlaknaa min qaryatin illaa lahaa munziroon

And We did not destroy any city except that it had warners

اور ہم نے کوئی بستی ہلاک نہیں کی مگر اس کے لئے نصیحت کرنے والے (پہلے بھیج دیتے) تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: أَفَرَ‌أَيْتَ إِن مَّتَّعْنَاهُمْ سِنِينَ ﴿205﴾ So tell me, If We give them enjoyment for years, - 26:205. There is a hint in this verse that those who are bestowed with long life in this world by Allah Ta’ ala, it is His grace on them. But those who show ingratitude for this grace and do not submit...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We have not destroyed any town but it had warners messengers to warn its inhabitants;
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Deniers will never believe until They see the Torment Allah says: `thus We caused denial, disbelief, rejection and stubbornness to enter the hearts of the sinners.' لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ (They will not believe in it), i.e., the truth, حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ (until they see the pain...

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍۭ بَطِرَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا فَتِلْكَ مَسَٰكِنُهُمْ لَمْ تُسْكَن مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا وَكُنَّا نَحْنُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ

Wa kam ahlaknaa min qaryatim batirat ma'eeshatahaa fatilka masaainuhum lam tuskam mim ba'dihim illaa qaleelaa; wa kunnaa Nahnul waariseen

And how many a city have We destroyed that was insolent in its [way of] living, and those are their dwellings which have not been inhabited after them except briefly. And it is We who were the inheritors.

اور ہم نے بہت سی بستیوں کو ہلاک کر ڈالا جو اپنی (فراخی) معیشت میں اترا رہے تھے۔ سو یہ اُن کے مکانات ہیں جو اُن کے بعد آباد ہی نہیں ہوئے مگر بہت کم۔ اور اُن کے پیچھے ہم ہی اُن کے وارث ہوئے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The second reply to their excuse is given in the next verse وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْ‌يَةٍ بَطِرَ‌تْ مَعِيشَتَهَا (And how many a town have We destroyed that were over-proud of their means of living. - 28:58). In this reply it is stressed that they should recall the plight of other infidel people ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And how many a town We have destroyed whose lifestyle was one of arrogant ungratefulness — by ‘town’ is meant the inhabitants thereof. Those are their dwellings which have not been dwelt in after them except a little by passers-by for a day or part of it. And it was We Who were the sole inheritors a...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destruction of Towns, which are not destroyed until Evidence is established against Them Referring to the people of Makkah, Allah says: وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ بَطِرَتْ مَعِيشَتَهَا (And how many a town have We destroyed, which was thankless for its means of livelihood!) They were arroga...

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Wa laqad ahlaknaa ma hawlakum minal quraa wa sarrafnal Aayaati la'allahum yarji'oon

And We have already destroyed what surrounds you of [those] cities, and We have diversified the signs [or verses] that perhaps they might return [from disbelief].

اور تمہارے اردگرد کی بستیوں کو ہم نے ہلاک کر دیا۔ اور بار بار (اپنی) نشانیاں ظاہر کردیں تاکہ وہ رجوع کریں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: { 1} The reference here is to the towns of Thamud and the people of Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) that were in the way of the people of Arabia while they travelled to Syria. The people of ` Ad were in Yemen, towards South from Makkah, while the towns of Thamud and those of Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) we...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We certainly destroyed the towns that were around you that is We destroyed their inhabitants the likes of Thamūd ‘Ād and the people of Lot and We dispensed the signs We repeated the clear proofs so that perhaps they might return.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ سَمْعاً وَأَبْصَـراً وَأَفْئِدَةً فَمَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَلاَ أَبْصَـرُهُمْ وَلاَ أَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مِّن شَىْءٍ إِذْ كَانُواْ يَجْحَدُونَ بِـَايَـتِ اللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ (We also gave them hearing, vision, and hearts. But their hearing, ...

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