وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ 23
Translations
And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following."
Transliteration
Wa-kadhalika ma arsalna min qablika fi qaryatin min nadhirin illa qala mutrafuha inna wajadna abaana ala ummatin wa-inna ala atharihim muqtadun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah illustrates a recurring pattern throughout history where the wealthy and privileged (mutrafun) of each nation rejected the messengers sent to them, claiming they preferred to follow the traditions and practices of their forefathers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the mutrafun (those who live in luxury and ease) are mentioned specifically because wealth and comfort often lead to arrogance and rejection of divine guidance. The ayah emphasizes that blind adherence to ancestral customs, regardless of their validity, has been a persistent obstacle to accepting the message of tawhid (monotheism).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Az-Zukhruf, which addresses the Meccan polytheists' rejection of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah was revealed to console the Prophet and show him that his experience of rejection was not unique—previous messengers faced similar resistance, particularly from the elite and wealthy of their societies who had vested interests in maintaining the status quo.
Related Hadiths
The hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim relates to the Prophet's statement: 'Every child is born on the fitrah (natural disposition), but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Zoroastrian.' This hadith complements the ayah by showing how cultural and ancestral influences override innate human nature. Another relevant hadith is found in Sunan Ibn Majah regarding the Prophet's warning about following the ways of previous nations blindly.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to examine whether their beliefs and practices are rooted in truth and Quranic guidance, or merely inherited customs without reflection. It serves as a warning against using wealth, status, or tradition as excuses to reject divine truth, and encourages critical thinking rather than blind conformity to ancestral practices.