كَدَأْبِ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ ۙ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَآ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ ۚ وَكُلٌّ كَانُوا۟ ظَـٰلِمِينَ 54
Translations
[Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them. They denied the signs of their Lord, so We destroyed them for their sins, and We drowned the people of Pharaoh. And all [of them] were wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Kada'bi ali Fir'awn wal-ladhina min qablihim, kadhdhabo bi-ayati rabbihim fa-ahlaknahum bi-dhunubihim wa-aghraqna ala Fir'awn, wa-kullun kanu zalimin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah draws a parallel between the rejection of the Quraysh and the historical rejection by Pharaoh's people and those before them, who denied the signs of their Lord and were destroyed because of their sins. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah serves as a warning: just as previous nations were annihilated for their disbelief and transgression, the Quraysh should fear a similar fate if they persist in rejecting the message of Islam. The specific mention of Pharaoh's drowning illustrates the completeness of divine justice—no oppressor escapes accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anfal, revealed in Medina after the Battle of Badr (2 AH). The surah addresses the early Muslim community's victory and provides theological and historical context for their struggle. This particular ayah serves as a reminder to believers that divine punishment is not arbitrary but follows a pattern: rejection of divine signs leads to destruction, a lesson the early Muslims needed to internalize regarding the Quraysh's persistent opposition.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here connects to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned the destruction of past nations: 'When Allah intends good for a people, He sends them a messenger.' This ayah's theme of divine justice in destroying disbelievers is also reinforced by the general principle mentioned in various hadith collections about the consequences of rejecting prophetic messages.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that rejection of divine truth is not a trivial matter—it carries serious consequences that may manifest in this life through destruction and calamity. For modern believers, it reinforces the importance of accepting divine guidance and warns against the arrogance and denial that characterized past civilizations, reminding us that no power, however mighty, can withstand the will of Allah when they persistently deny His signs.