وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عَادٍ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًا وَتَنْحِتُونَ ٱلْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًا ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ 74
Translations
And remember when He made you successors after the ʿAad and settled you in the land, [and] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes. Then remember the favors of Allāh and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."
Transliteration
Wa-dhkuroo idh ja'alakum khulafaa'a min ba'di 'Aad wa-bawwa'akum fil-ardi tattakhidhoona min suhuulihaa qusooraw wa-tanhituun al-jibaal buyoota fa-dhkuroo aalaa'a Allah wa-laa ta'thaw fil-ardi mufsideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the people of Thamud, reminding them that Allah made them successors (khulafaa') after the destroyed nation of 'Ad, and blessed them with dwellings in the plains and carved houses from mountains. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah emphasizes Allah's bounties upon them through their advanced architectural skills and fertile land. The command to remember Allah's blessings (aalaa') is coupled with a stern warning against spreading corruption on earth, which would nullify their gratitude and invite divine punishment similar to 'Ad's fate.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Surah Al-A'raf (Meccan period) recounting the story of Thamud and their prophet Salih. The context follows the account of 'Ad's destruction and precedes Thamud's defiance of Salih's message. It serves as a historical reminder to the Quraysh of Mecca about how previous nations were destroyed for ingratitude and corruption despite receiving divine favors.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Muslim (2865) regarding the prohibition of corruption (fasad) on earth, where the Prophet ﷺ emphasized that those who spread corruption will face severe punishment. Also relevant: The general principle in Surah As-Sajdah (32:27) about how Allah grants dominion to nations and they choose whether to be grateful or ungrateful.
Themes
Key Lesson
The ayah teaches that material prosperity, technological advancement, and favorable living conditions are divine blessings that demand gratitude through obedience, not arrogance and corruption. Modern societies blessed with development should reflect on whether they are using these gifts in ways that honor their Creator or spreading harm, remembering that abundance without righteousness invites divine displeasure.