ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ 31
Translations
Then We produced after them a generation of others.
Transliteration
Thumma ansha'na min ba'dihim qarnan akhireen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's creation of successive generations after the previous ones, continuing the narrative of how Allah sends messengers to different peoples across time. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as part of the pattern of divine guidance throughout history, where each generation receives its own messenger and warning, yet many turn away from the truth. The ayah emphasizes Allah's justice and mercy in repeatedly sending guidance to humanity despite their tendency toward disbelief and deviation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Mu'minun, which focuses on the characteristics of true believers and the historical pattern of divine revelation. It is part of a passage (verses 23-41) that recounts how Allah created humanity, sent messengers to various nations throughout history, and how those nations responded with rejection and heedlessness. This serves as a warning to the Meccans of the consequences of rejecting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of nations and messengers: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Every nation has a messenger' (Quran 10:47). Additionally, Sahih Muslim contains hadiths about the succession of prophets and how each generation was tested with their own message from Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the pattern of sending messengers and testing nations is not arbitrary but part of Allah's established divine system. For modern readers, it teaches that spiritual responsibility is generational and that turning away from guidance has consistent consequences throughout human history, serving as a call to heed the message of Islam before it is too late.