أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ 18
Translations
Those are the ones upon whom the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect, [who will be] among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.
Transliteration
Ulaa'ika allatheena haqqa alayhimu alqawlu fee umamin qad khalat min qablihim mina aljinni wa alinssi innahum kanoo khasireena
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those deniers and disbelievers upon whom the word of punishment has been justly decreed, just as it was decreed upon previous nations of both jinn and humans who came before them. Ibn Kathir explains that this refers to the Quraysh and other disbelievers whose destruction and punishment has already been predetermined by Allah, following the pattern of divine justice established since ancient times. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that these people are described as losers (khasireena) because they have forfeited both their worldly interests and eternal salvation through their rejection of faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Ahqaf, which discusses the disbelievers' arrogance and their mocking of the Quran and the Prophet (peace be upon him). The broader context addresses how Allah's punishment came to previous nations who rejected their messengers, establishing a divine pattern that the contemporary disbelievers should heed as a warning.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi wherein Allah states His justice in punishment: 'My mercy encompasses all things, but My punishment is for those who disbelieve and associate partners with Me' (Sahih Muslim). Also relevant is the hadith about the sunnah (established pattern) of Allah: 'You will not find any change in the sunnah of Allah' (Quran 33:62, affirmed in various prophetic traditions).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that rejecting divine guidance has consistent and inevitable consequences across all times and peoples, and that no one is exempt from Allah's justice—believers should reflect on the fate of past nations and align themselves with obedience to avoid similar ruin.
Related Ayahs
تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۭ بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَـٰكِنُهُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Destroying everything by command of its Lord. And they became so that nothing was seen [of them] except their dwellings. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.
وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
But one who says to his parents, "Uff to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allāh for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former peoples" -
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُم بِهِۦ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثْلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Say, "Have you considered: if it [i.e., the Qur’ān] was from Allāh, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant...?" Indeed, Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱلصِّدْقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.