وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـٰلِمُونَ 59
Translations
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother [i.e., principal city] a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Wa mā kāna rabbuka muhlika al-qurā ḥattā yabʿatha fī ummihā rasūlan yatlū ʿalayhim āyātinā wa mā kunnā muhlikī al-qurā illā wa ahluhā ẓālimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes a divine principle that Allah does not destroy cities and their inhabitants until He sends them a messenger to recite His signs and verses to them, ensuring they have received clear guidance before punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this demonstrates Allah's justice and mercy—He does not punish a people without first sending them a warner. Destruction only comes to those who reject the message and persist in wrongdoing (ẓulm), making them worthy of punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Qasas, which recounts the story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh's destruction. The broader context illustrates how previous nations were destroyed after rejecting their messengers, providing historical examples of this divine principle in action. This thematic context reinforces the importance of heeding prophetic guidance.
Related Hadiths
The principle is reflected in hadith literature regarding divine justice. See similar themes in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned that Allah's punishment does not befall a people while among them is a warner. Also related to the hadith about the conditions of accepting supplication: 'There is no people among whom there is not a messenger' (referenced in classical tafsir discussions).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that God's justice is perfect and merciful—He always provides guidance through messengers before sending punishment, placing the responsibility for acceptance or rejection squarely on humanity. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of heeding divine guidance when it reaches us and reminds us that ignoring clear truth leads to consequences, while accepting it brings salvation.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَغْوَيْنَآ أَغْوَيْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا غَوَيْنَا ۖ تَبَرَّأْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۖ مَا كَانُوٓا۟ إِيَّانَا يَعْبُدُونَ
Those upon whom the word will have come into effect will say, "Our Lord, these are the ones we led to error. We led them to error just as we were in error. We declare our disassociation [from them] to You. They did not used to worship [i.e., obey] us."
فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا يُعَذِّبُ عَذَابَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ
So on that Day, none will punish [as severely] as His punishment,
وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَـٰسِقُونَ
And judge, [O Muḥammad], between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allāh has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allāh only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.
وَلَوْ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ نَفْسٍ ظَلَمَتْ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۖ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And if each soul that wronged had everything on earth, it would offer it in ransom. And they will confide regret when they see the punishment; and they will be judged in justice, and they will not be wronged.