أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَآ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ 9
Translations
Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed [or excavated] the earth and built it up more than they [i.e., the Makkans] have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allāh would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.
Transliteration
Awalam yasiraw fee al-ardi fayanzuroo kayfa kana AAqibatu allatheena min qablihim kanoo ashadda minhum quwwatan waatharoo al-arda waAAamaruha akthar mimma AAamaruha wajaat-hum rusuluhum bil-bayyinat fama kana Allahu liyazlimahum walakin kanoo anfusahum yazlimoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah calls upon the disbelievers to travel through the land and observe the ruins and remnants of previous civilizations who were destroyed due to their rejection of Allah's messengers and their disobedience. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that despite these destroyed nations being stronger in military power and more developed in material civilization, they were ultimately annihilated by Allah's punishment because they chose to oppress themselves through disbelief and wrongdoing. The ayah clarifies that Allah's justice is perfect—He does not wrong anyone, but people are the architects of their own destruction through sin and rejection of divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ar-Rum (revealed in Mecca) and occurs within a broader section addressing the Quraysh's refusal to accept the Message. The context relates to the fall of previous civilizations and serves as a warning to the disbelievers of Mecca that similar destruction awaits those who reject Allah's messengers. The surah contextually addresses contemporary events (the Roman-Persian wars) while drawing historical lessons from past nations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those of my generation, then those who will come after them, then those who will come after them' (Sahih Bukhari 2652), encouraging reflection on the decline of communities. Additionally, the hadith about traveling to observe ruins: 'How many a town We have destroyed which was given to evil living. Now they dwell in ruins' (Quran reference reinforced in various ahadith about the importance of historical observation).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that material strength and earthly development are meaningless without obedience to Allah and His messengers—history demonstrates that no civilization, however powerful, escapes accountability for rejecting divine guidance. For modern readers, this teaches that self-examination and learning from history are essential, and that societal collapse stems not from external circumstances but from internal moral and spiritual corruption.