كَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنكُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرَ أَمْوَٰلًا وَأَوْلَـٰدًا فَٱسْتَمْتَعُوا۟ بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ فَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِخَلَـٰقِكُمْ كَمَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُم بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَٱلَّذِى خَاضُوٓا۟ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 69
Translations
[You disbelievers are] like those before you; they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion [of worldly enjoyment], and you have enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their portion, and you have engaged [in vanities] like that in which they engaged. [It is] those whose deeds have become worthless in this world and in the Hereafter, and it is they who are the losers.
Transliteration
Kallatheen min qablukum kanoo ashadda minkum quwwatan wa akthara amwalan wa awladan fastamta'oo bikhalaqihim fastamta'tum bikhalaqikum kama istamta'a allatheena min qablihim bikhalaqihim wa khudtum kallathee khaadhoo. Olaika habitat a'maluhum fee ad-donya wa al-akhirah wa olaika hum al-khasiroon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the believers that previous nations possessed greater strength, wealth, and offspring than the Muslims of Madinah, yet they indulged in worldly pleasures and engaged in frivolous discourse (khawd) similar to what the present community was doing. Ibn Kathir explains that 'khawd' (خوض) refers to engaging in vain talk, mockery, and rejection of divine guidance. The ayah concludes with the stern warning that such behavior causes all deeds to become nullified in both this world and the Hereafter, and those who persist are indeed the greatest losers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah (Repentance), a Medinan surah revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah addressing hypocrites and those wavering in faith. The broader context concerns believers who were distracted by worldly pursuits and idle talk instead of focusing on their religious duties. The ayah draws a parallel between the Muslims' behavior and that of destroyed nations as a warning.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.' (Sahih Bukhari 3649). Also related: 'Woe to those who talk vainly while others are in remembrance of Allah.' (At-Tirmidhi, thematic connection to khawd/vain discourse)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that material wealth and strength do not prevent divine punishment if one abandons faith and engages in idle, frivolous discourse. Believers are cautioned to remain vigilant against the subtle ways worldly pleasures and vain talk can distance them from their spiritual obligations and lead to the loss of all their good deeds.
Related Ayahs
يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِـُٔوا۟ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى ٱللَّهُ إِلَّآ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
They want to extinguish the light of Allāh with their mouths, but Allāh refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً فَلَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
Ask forgiveness for them, [O Muḥammad], or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allāh forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allāh and His Messenger, and Allāh does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Allāh has pardoned you, [O Muḥammad, but] why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
ٱلتَّـٰٓئِبُونَ ٱلْعَـٰبِدُونَ ٱلْحَـٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّـٰٓئِحُونَ ٱلرَّٰكِعُونَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدُونَ ٱلْـَٔامِرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[Such believers are] the repentant, the worshippers, the praisers [of Allāh], the travelers [for His cause], those who bow and prostrate [in prayer], those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who observe the limits [set by] Allāh. And give good tidings to the believers.