وَجَآءَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَن قَبْلَهُۥ وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَـٰتُ بِٱلْخَاطِئَةِ 9
Translations
And there came Pharaoh and those before him and the overturned cities with sin.
Transliteration
Wa jaa'a fir'awnu wa man qablahu wal-mu'tafikatu bil-kha'ti'ah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Pharaoh and those before him, along with the people of the overturned cities (Aad and Thamud, or the people of Lot), came with falsehood and sin. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'al-kha'ti'ah' (the wrong deed/falsehood) refers to their rejection of the prophets and their denial of divine signs. This ayah emphasizes the pattern of rebellion against Allah's messengers throughout history, culminating in Pharaoh's arrogance and the destruction that befell these nations.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Haqqah, which was revealed in Mecca and focuses on the certainty of the Day of Judgment and the fates of those who rejected the prophets. It contextualizes the surah's theme by presenting historical examples of nations destroyed for their obstinacy and rejection of truth, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the punishment of nations: 'The most severe punishment on the Day of Judgment will be for those who made images/rivals to Allah.' Additionally, various hadiths in Sahih Bukhari discuss Pharaoh's arrogance and his ultimate drowning as a sign of Allah's power.
Themes
Key Lesson
History demonstrates that those who persistently reject Allah's signs and His messengers, no matter their worldly power or position, ultimately face destruction. This serves as a timeless reminder that arrogance and denial of truth inevitably lead to ruin, encouraging believers to heed divine guidance while it is available.