فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ غُثَآءً ۚ فَبُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 41
Translations
So the shriek seized them in truth, and We made them as [plant] stubble. Then away with the wrongdoing people.
Transliteration
Fa-akhdhatthummu as-sayhatu bil-haqqi fa-ja'alnāhum ghuthā'an fa-bu'dan lil-qawmi adh-dhālimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the destruction of the people of Hud when the divine punishment overtook them—a severe cry or blast seized them in truth, and Allah reduced them to scattered debris like the foam of a flood. The ayah concludes with a powerful invocation of destruction upon the wrongdoing people. Ibn Kathir notes this refers to the disbelieving Ad people who rejected Prophet Hud, and their annihilation serves as a stern warning to those who persist in rejecting Allah's signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the section of Surah Al-Mu'minun that recounts stories of the prophets and their peoples, specifically the account of Prophet Hud and the destruction of the Ad civilization. This thematic context emphasizes the recurring pattern of divine punishment for those who reject the message of tawhīd and persist in oppression.
Related Hadiths
The story of Ad's destruction is referenced in Hadith Qudsi and various narrations in Tafsir works. See Surah Al-Ahqaf (46:24-26) and Surah Al-Fajr (89:6-8) for complementary hadiths about the Ad people's destruction with the violent wind.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejecting divine guidance and persisting in wrongdoing inevitably leads to destruction, regardless of worldly power or wealth. The graphic imagery of reduction to scattered debris emphasizes that no amount of arrogance or defiance can protect one from Allah's justice, teaching humility and obedience to the Divine message.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَلَوْ رَحِمْنَـٰهُمْ وَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِم مِّن ضُرٍّ لَّلَجُّوا۟ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And even if We gave them mercy and removed what was upon them of affliction, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.
لَا تَجْـَٔرُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّكُم مِّنَّا لَا تُنصَرُونَ
Do not cry out today. Indeed, by Us you will not be helped.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
And We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?"
فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَنزَلَ مَلَـٰٓئِكَةً مَّا سَمِعْنَا بِهَـٰذَا فِىٓ ءَابَآئِنَا ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
But the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to take precedence over you; and if Allāh had willed [to send a messenger], He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.