فَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ مِن قِيَامٍ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنتَصِرِينَ 45
Translations
And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.
Transliteration
Fama istata'u min qiyamin wa ma kanu muntasirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the state of the people of 'Ad after Allah's punishment seized them—they were unable to stand up or defend themselves. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase 'from standing' (min qiyam) refers to their complete inability to rise or resist, while 'they were not victorious' emphasizes their total helplessness against Allah's retribution. The ayah demonstrates the finality of divine punishment for those who reject the message and persist in arrogance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Adh-Dhariyat's recounting of the destruction of the people of 'Ad, one of the ancient Arabian nations mentioned throughout the Quran. The surah uses their story as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers about the inevitable consequences of rejecting Allah's prophets, establishing a pattern of divine justice across history.
Related Hadiths
The destruction of 'Ad is referenced in various hadiths about the Day of Judgment and divine punishment. See Sahih Bukhari (Kitab al-Tafsir) regarding the stories of the destroyed nations as signs for the believers. Tirmidhi also records hadiths about the wind (ar-rih) that destroyed 'Ad as mentioned in Surah Al-Haqqah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no amount of strength, wealth, or numbers can protect those who turn away from Allah's guidance—true security lies only in obedience and submission. For modern readers, it serves as a humbling reminder that worldly power is illusory without divine favor, encouraging reliance on Allah rather than material means.