أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُۥ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا 44
Translations
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? And they were greater than them in power. But Allāh is not to be caused failure [i.e., prevented] by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent.
Transliteration
Awalam yasīrū fī al-arḍi fayanzurū kayfa kāna `āqibatu alladhīna min qablihim wa-kānū ashadda minhum quwwatan wa-mā kāna Allāhu li-yu`jizahu min shay'in fī as-samāwāti wa-lā fī al-arḍi innahu kāna `alīman qadīran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the disbelievers to travel through the earth and observe the ruins and fate of past civilizations who were more powerful than them, yet were destroyed by Allah's punishment for their rejection of His signs. The verse emphasizes that Allah's power encompasses all things in the heavens and earth—nothing escapes His knowledge (`alīm) or ability (`qadīr)—thus their destruction was not by chance but by Allah's divine decree. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah serves as both a warning and evidence of Allah's absolute sovereignty; Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the remains of destroyed nations are physical signs (āyāt) for the believers to contemplate.
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is a Meccan surah revealed during the period of intense Meccan opposition to the Prophet (ﷺ). This ayah appears in the latter portion of the surah and addresses the Quraysh's arrogance and denial. It contextualizes within the surah's broader theme of Allah's creative power and the consequences of rejecting His messengers, using historical examples as proof of divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Learn from the fate of nations before you, as a lesson and admonition' (related thematically in various admonitions about studying history). Additionally, the concept of i'tibār (taking lessons from the past) is emphasized in the hadith: 'The best of stories is the Qur'an' (Sahih Muslim), where studying the accounts of previous peoples is encouraged as a means of guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should reflect upon the patterns of history and the rise and fall of civilizations as signs of Allah's justice, recognizing that material power and wealth cannot protect those who reject divine guidance. This ayah teaches us that no amount of worldly strength can stand against Allah's will, and thus our focus should be on obedience and faith rather than accumulation of power and resources.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا ۚ وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ
Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner.
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ لَئِن جَآءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ لَّيَكُونُنَّ أَهْدَىٰ مِنْ إِحْدَى ٱلْأُمَمِ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ نَذِيرٌ مَّا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّا نُفُورًا
And they swore by Allāh their strongest oaths that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than [any] one of the [previous] nations. But when a warner came to them, it did not increase them except in aversion
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا ٱلْحَزَنَ ۖ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
And they will say, "Praise to Allāh, who has removed from us [all] sorrow. Indeed, our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative -
وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰٓ ۗ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to Allāh is the [final] destination.