وَإِذَآ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُوا۟ فِيهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهَا ٱلْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنَـٰهَا تَدْمِيرًا 16
Translations
And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word [i.e., deserved decree] comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.
Transliteration
Wa-idha aradna an nuhilka qaryatan amarna mutrafīhā fafasaqū fīhā faḥaqqa ʿalayhā al-qawlu fadammarnāhā tadmīrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes Allah's divine law that when He intends to destroy a city, He commands its affluent and privileged people to transgress, and when they do so through corruption and sin, the decree of punishment becomes binding upon that city, leading to its complete destruction. Ibn Kathir explains that 'mutrafīhā' (those given luxury) refers to the wealthy elite whose disobedience spreads corruption throughout society, and Al-Tabari notes that this represents a universal principle: corruption among the leaders and the privileged inevitably brings divine punishment upon the entire community.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah that addresses the polytheists of Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The broader context discusses the consequences of rejecting divine guidance, and this particular ayah illustrates the pattern of how societies are destroyed—serving as a warning to the Quraysh about the fate of those who persist in transgression despite warnings from the messengers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When the people of a land commit sins, Allah sends punishment upon all of them' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the hadith 'The best of you are the best to your families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi) relates thematically to the responsibility of leaders and the privileged to maintain righteousness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that societal corruption, especially among those with influence and wealth, invites divine retribution upon entire communities. Modern readers should reflect on their responsibility to maintain integrity and righteousness, particularly if they hold positions of influence, and understand that moral decay at leadership levels has consequences for society at large.