قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ 137
Translations
Similar situations [as yours] have passed on before you, so proceed throughout the earth and observe how was the end of those who denied.
Transliteration
Qad khalat min qablikum sunan fasīrū fī al-arḍ fānẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu al-mukaddhibīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to travel through the earth and observe the ruins and remnants of past nations who rejected their prophets, thereby witnessing the inevitable destruction that befell the deniers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the term 'sunan' (laws/patterns) refers to the established divine patterns and consequences that Allah set for nations, establishing that denial of truth invariably leads to ruin. The ayah serves as both a warning to the contemporary Meccan disbelievers and a reassurance to the believers that Allah's promise against those who reject His signs is certain and historically verifiable.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah Ali 'Imran, which addresses the People of the Book and the polytheists of Makkah. It follows discussions about the trials faced by believers and their victory at Badr, contextualizing this command as encouragement for the Muslim community to remain steadfast by reflecting upon history's lessons regarding the fate of previous deniers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing the importance of understanding divine guidance. Additionally, in Tirmidhi, the Prophet encouraged reflection upon creation and history as a means of strengthening faith and wisdom.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that truth and falsehood have clear, observable consequences in history—believers should study past civilizations to strengthen their conviction in Allah's justice and the certainty of His promises. For the modern reader, it encourages critical thinking and learning from history rather than blindly repeating the mistakes of those who came before.
Related Ayahs
ٱسْتِكْبَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ ٱلسَّيِّئِ ۚ وَلَا يَحِيقُ ٱلْمَكْرُ ٱلسَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِۦ ۚ فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ۚ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا
[Due to] arrogance in the land and plotting of evil; but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people. Then do they await except the way [i.e., fate] of the former peoples? But you will never find in the way [i.e., established method] of Allāh any change, and you will never find in the way of Allāh any alteration.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا۟ وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى كُلَّ كَفُورٍ
And for those who disbelieve will be the fire of Hell. [Death] is not decreed for them so they may die, nor will its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We recompense every ungrateful one.
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَـٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا
Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower.
فَأَرَادَ أَن يَسْتَفِزَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَغْرَقْنَـٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥ جَمِيعًا
So he intended to drive them from the land, but We drowned him and those with him all together.