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
غَافِرِ ٱلذَّنۢبِ وَقَابِلِ ٱلتَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ ٱلْعِقَابِ ذِى ٱلطَّوْلِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ إِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
The forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance, severe in punishment, owner of abundance. There is no deity except Him; to Him is the destination.
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَأُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
And as for those who disbelieved, I will punish them with a severe punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no helpers."
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ وَسَعَىٰ فِى خَرَابِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلَّا خَآئِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allāh from being mentioned [i.e., praised] in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.