ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا ٱلْـَٔاخَرِينَ 136
Translations
Then We destroyed the others.
Transliteration
Thumma dammarna al-akhireen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's destruction of the later generations or peoples who rejected His signs and messengers. Ibn Kathir explains this in the context of the surah's discussion of various nations that were destroyed for their disbelief and disobedience, emphasizing Allah's pattern of punishing those who persist in transgression. Al-Tabari notes that 'al-akhireen' (the later ones) refers to the subsequent peoples and generations who met the same fate as their predecessors in denying the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah As-Saffat, a Meccan surah that emphasizes Allah's absolute power and sovereignty through accounts of destroyed nations. The surah contextually discusses the destruction of various communities (Nuh's people, the people of Lut, etc.) to remind the Quraysh of Mecca of the consequences of rejecting the message. This ayah follows the narrative pattern established throughout the surah of divine punishment for those who reject Allah's messengers.
Related Hadiths
The theme of divine destruction of transgressing peoples is reinforced in the hadith: 'The best of you are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them' (Sahih Bukhari 2509), which contrasts righteous generations with those who deviate. Additionally, the Quran itself emphasizes this pattern in 40:82: 'Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them?'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that rejection of divine guidance carries inevitable consequences, and no community—regardless of power or resources—can escape Allah's justice. For believers today, it underscores the importance of heeding the message of the prophets and the Quran, lest we follow the path of those destroyed before us.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ فَٱذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّن تُخْلَفَهُۥ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِى ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا ۖ لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ نَسْفًا
[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.
قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْدَى ٱلْحُسْنَيَيْنِ ۖ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِۦٓ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا ۖ فَتَرَبَّصُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ
Say, "Do you await for us except one of the two best things [i.e., martyrdom or victory] while we await for you that Allāh will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting."
فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنظَرِينَ
And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.
وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مُهْلِكُوٓا۟ أَهْلِ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ۖ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا۟ ظَـٰلِمِينَ
And when Our messengers [i.e., angels] came to Abraham with the good tidings, they said, "Indeed, we will destroy the people of that [i.e., Lot's] city. Indeed, its people have been wrongdoers."