وَكَم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَا فَجَآءَهَا بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا أَوْ هُمْ قَآئِلُونَ 4
Translations
And how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon.
Transliteration
Wa-kam min qaryatin ahlaknahā fajā'ahā ba'sunā bayātan aw hum qā'ilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah illustrates Allah's punishment upon past nations who rejected His messengers, describing how divine punishment came suddenly upon them—either at night while they slept or during their midday rest (qā'ilūn). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as emphasizing the inescapability and unexpectedness of Allah's retribution for those who persist in disbelief and wrongdoing, serving as a warning to the Meccan polytheists of similar consequences.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-A'raf, which comprehensively discusses the fates of destroyed nations (Aad, Thamud, Pharaoh's people, etc.). The surah uses these historical examples to warn the Quraysh of Mecca about the dangers of rejecting the Prophet Muhammad and the message of monotheism.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this specific ayah, Surah Al-A'raf's theme of destroyed nations relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned: 'When you see the sun rising from the west, believe, for that is the last sign.' This emphasizes the urgency of heeding warnings before it is too late.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that defying Allah's message has inevitable consequences regardless of time or circumstance, and serves as a profound warning to always remain conscious of accountability. Modern readers should reflect on the importance of heeding divine guidance and the timeless nature of moral accountability for both individuals and societies.