فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۖ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ 25
Translations
So We took retribution from them; then see how was the end of the deniers.
Transliteration
Fantaqamnā minhum fa-nẓur kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu al-mukadhdhībīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the narrative about the people of Salih and their rejection of the truth, stating: 'So We took retribution upon them; look how was the end of the deniers.' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes Allah's swift punishment upon those who persistently reject His messengers and signs. The command to 'look' (fa-nẓur) is directed at the Prophet Muhammad and the believers as an admonition—to observe and reflect upon the destructive consequences that befall those who deny the divine message.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zukhruf's broader narrative discussing ancient prophets and nations that rejected divine guidance, particularly the story of Prophet Salih and the Thamud people. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period of intense rejection of the Prophet's message, serving as a consolation and reminder to the believers that rejection of truth has always been met with divine punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them' (Sahih Bukhari 2652). Additionally, in the context of warning against denial, the hadith: 'Whoever rejects Allah and His Messenger has indeed strayed into a manifest error' is thematically related to the consequences mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are reminded to observe the historical consequences of denying divine truth as a deterrent against heedlessness and rejection. This ayah teaches that steadfastness in faith and obedience to Allah's messengers is the path to safety, while denial and arrogance inevitably lead to destruction in this life and the next.