وَعَادًا وَثَمُودَا۟ وَأَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلرَّسِّ وَقُرُونًۢا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ كَثِيرًا 38
Translations
And [We destroyed] ʿAad and Thamūd and the companions of the well and many generations between them.
Transliteration
Wa AAadan wa Thamooda wa ashaaba alrrrissi wa quroonan bayna dhalika katheeran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah references the destroyed nations of 'Ad and Thamud, along with the people of the well (Ashab al-Rass), and many other generations between them who similarly rejected their messengers and were punished for their disbelief. Ibn Kathir explains that Allah is reminding the Quraysh of these historical examples as evidence that those who reject divine guidance face inevitable destruction, regardless of their wealth or power. The mention of 'many generations' emphasizes the recurring pattern of divine judgment throughout human history.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Furqan (The Criterion), revealed during a period when the Quraysh were intensely opposing the Prophet Muhammad. The context is Allah's response to those who denied the message, with historical examples serving as warnings. The broader context of 25:36-40 discusses various messengers and nations, establishing a pattern of divine punishment for those who reject truth.
Related Hadiths
Surah Al-Furqan (25:38) is related to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the destruction of previous nations: 'The example of the people of three prophets, 'Isa, Musa, and Ibrahim, is like a man who prepared a meal and invited people, but they kept refusing to come.' This illustrates the recurring rejection of messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as previous civilizations were destroyed for rejecting divine guidance despite their strength and resources, believers should reflect on the consequences of turning away from truth and heed the warnings presented by history. This ayah teaches that no nation, however powerful, is exempt from Allah's justice when they persistently deny His signs and messengers.