وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَآ أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ 51
Translations
And We have already destroyed your kinds, so is there any who will remember?
Transliteration
Wa-laqad ahlakna ashyaʿakum fa-hal min muddakir
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah reminds the disbelievers of Makkah that He has already destroyed the nations and peoples who came before them (the generations of ʿAd, Thamud, and Pharaoh), yet they persisted in disbelief. The ayah concludes with a rhetorical question challenging them to take heed and remember the consequences of rejection. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this is a warning based on historical precedent—if previous nations were annihilated for their obstinacy, why should the Quraysh think themselves exempt?
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Qamar, which repeatedly mentions the destruction of past nations (ʿAd, Thamud, Lot's people, and Pharaoh). The surah was revealed in Mecca to warn the contemporary polytheists of similar destruction if they continued rejecting the message. The repetition of "fahl min muddakir" (is there any who will remember/take heed?) throughout the surah emphasizes Allah's call to reflection and repentance.
Related Hadiths
The general theme relates to Surah Al-Qamar's warning function. A thematically related hadith is found in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned: 'Take admonition from the example of past nations, for indeed in their stories is a lesson for those of understanding.' This reflects the surah's message of learning from destroyed nations.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that ignoring warnings carries severe consequences, as demonstrated throughout human history, and encourages us to heed the Quran's messages rather than follow the path of those who were destroyed. For modern readers, it invites introspection about whether we are truly taking heed (muddakir) from the Quran's teachings or merely hearing them without reflection.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْحُطَمَةُ
And what can make you know what is the Crusher?
بَلْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلسَّاعَةِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِمَن كَذَّبَ بِٱلسَّاعَةِ سَعِيرًا
But they have denied the Hour, and We have prepared for those who deny the Hour a Blaze.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ وَأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَا خَلَـٰقَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا يَنظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allāh and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allāh will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَـٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلْهَدْىَ وَلَا ٱلْقَلَـٰٓئِدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَٰنًا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَٱصْطَادُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا۟ ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allāh or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval. But when you come out of iḥrām, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.