مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ 42
Translations
It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.
Transliteration
Mā tadharu min shay'in atat 'alayhi illā ja'alat-hu ka-ar-rammīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the devastating wind that struck the people of 'Ād, leaving nothing it touched except reduced to dust and decay (al-rammīm - decayed bones or crumbled remains). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the wind was a punishment from Allah that completely annihilated their possessions, dwellings, and ultimately their people, demonstrating the absolute power of Allah's punishment upon those who reject His signs. Al-Qurtubi notes that the word 'al-rammīm' specifically refers to old, crumbled bones, emphasizing the complete destruction and deterioration of everything the wind encountered.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Adh-Dhariyat's discussion of the stories of previous nations, specifically the account of 'Ād and the devastating wind sent against them. The surah uses these historical examples as warnings to the Meccan polytheists about the consequences of disbelief and rejection of Allah's messengers.
Related Hadiths
The destruction of 'Ād is referenced in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the powerful winds sent as punishment. Additionally, Surah Al-Haqqah (69:6-7) provides complementary details about this same wind, noted in various hadith collections discussing the signs of the Hour and past destructions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's punishment upon those who persistently reject His guidance is absolute and comprehensive, leaving no trace of their former glory or power. It serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of heeding divine warnings and the futility of worldly possessions and pride when they conflict with obedience to Allah.