وَلَقَدْ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ 41
Translations
And there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad jaa'a ala Fir'awna an-nuzur
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that the people of Pharaoh received clear warnings and signs from Allah through Prophet Moses and other messengers, yet they rejected them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'an-nuzur' (the warnings/admonitions) refers to the various miracles and prophetic messages sent to Pharaoh's people, emphasizing that their punishment was just because they had been adequately warned before their destruction. The ayah sets the stage for the surah's recurring theme that those who reject divine signs face inevitable consequences.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qamar, which is primarily Meccan and focuses on warnings to the disbelievers of Mecca by recounting stories of past nations who rejected messengers. The specific reference to Pharaoh's people illustrates the parallel between the Meccan disbelievers and ancient peoples who received warnings but refused to heed them, serving as a cautionary tale for those contemporary to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Related Hadiths
The theme of warnings being sent before punishment is reinforced in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah does not punish a people until He has sent them a messenger.' This principle underlies the warning to Pharaoh's people mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's justice is perfect—He never punishes a people without first sending them clear warnings and evidence. For believers today, it reminds us to heed the signs and guidance provided to us, and for those in doubt, it demonstrates that rejecting divine truth comes with certain consequences.