وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَّعْلُومٌ 4
Translations
And We did not destroy any city but that for it was a known decree.
Transliteration
Wa mā ahlak nā min qaryatin illā wa lahā kitābun ma'lūm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that Allah does not destroy any community except by a predetermined decree and written measure. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'kitāb ma'lūm' (known/written decree) to mean that every nation's lifespan, provision, and eventual destruction are recorded in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) before creation. This signifies Allah's perfect knowledge, justice, and the principle that destruction comes only after clear warning through messengers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hijr, which addresses the disbelievers of Mecca and discusses the fate of previous nations. It provides reassurance to the Prophet Muhammad that the destruction of disbelieving communities follows a divine pattern and predetermined wisdom, not arbitrary punishment. The surah contrasts the inevitability of divine justice with human free choice in accepting or rejecting guidance.
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of predetermined decree (Qadr): Hadith Jibril in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet describes belief in Qadr as one of the pillars of Iman (faith). Also relevant: 'Every soul shall taste death; and We test you with evil and with good by way of trial' (Quran 21:35) paired with authentic hadiths on Allah's perfect knowledge of all affairs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that God's justice is absolute and His knowledge encompasses all things—no community perishes unjustly or without prior warning. For modern readers, it encourages trust in divine wisdom during trials and underscores the importance of heeding divine guidance, as rejection of truth leads to predictable consequences.