ثُمَّ جَآءَهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ 206
Translations
And then there came to them that which they were promised?
Transliteration
Thumma jaa'ahum maa kanu yu'adun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the punishment and retribution that came upon the disbelieving nations after they rejected their messengers and persisted in denial. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this verse emphasizes the certainty of Allah's promise—that those who mock and reject the truth will inevitably face the consequences they were warned about in this life and the Hereafter. Al-Tabari notes this is part of the recurring pattern throughout Surah Ash-Shu'ara where each nation receives the promised punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Ash-Shu'ara, which details the stories of various prophets and the fate of nations that rejected them. The verse comes at the conclusion of several narratives (Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shu'ayb) illustrating how Allah's warning and promise of punishment are always fulfilled, serving as warnings to the Quraysh who were similarly rejecting Prophet Muhammad.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of Allah's promise: The hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'When Allah intends good for a people, He hastens their punishment in this world, and when He intends ill for them, He withholds punishment until they meet Him on the Day of Judgment.' This emphasizes the certainty of divine justice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's warnings are not empty threats but certain realities that will come to pass, encouraging us to heed divine guidance and warning others with conviction. It also instills hope in the hearts of believers that truth will ultimately prevail over falsehood, regardless of how powerful the opposition may seem.
Related Ayahs
لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ
Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm
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.
أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Then, did they feel secure from the plan of Allāh? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allāh except the losing people.
فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنتَصِرِينَ
And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allāh, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.