كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَٱلْأَحْزَابُ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۖ وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍۭ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ ۖ وَجَـٰدَلُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا۟ بِهِ ٱلْحَقَّ فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ 5
Translations
The people of Noah denied before them and the [disbelieving] factions after them, and every nation intended [a plot] for their messenger to seize him, and they disputed by [using] falsehood to [attempt to] invalidate thereby the truth. So I seized them, and how [terrible] was My penalty.
Transliteration
Kazzabat qablahum qawmu Noohin wa-l-ahzabu min ba'dihim wa-hammat kullu ummatin bi-rasoolihim li-ya'khuzoohu wa-jadalu bi-l-batili li-yudhhidu bihi al-haqqa fa-akhazathum fa-kayfa kana 'iqabi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah recounts how the people of Noah and the various factions (ahzab) after him rejected their messengers and collectively plotted to seize them, engaging in futile arguments to suppress the truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah's punishment fell upon these nations as a consequence of their deliberate rejection and conspiracy against the divine message. The rhetorical question 'So how was My punishment?' emphasizes the severity of the divine retribution that befell them.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ghafir (a Meccan surah), which was revealed to comfort and strengthen the Prophet Muhammad during the intense persecution he faced in Mecca. The surah provides historical examples of nations that rejected their messengers, serving as a warning to the Quraysh and reassurance to believers that those who oppose Allah's message will ultimately face punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'The example of me and the other prophets is like a man who built a beautiful house and made it perfect except for the place of one brick. People go around it wondering at its beauty saying, "Why was this brick not placed?"' (Sahih Bukhari). This illustrates how previous nations received complete messages but rejected them due to minor objections.
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as previous nations faced destruction for conspiring against Allah's messengers and prioritizing falsehood over truth, believers today should recognize that opposing divine guidance inevitably leads to ruin, while steadfastly adhering to the message brings honor and salvation.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥٓ إِذَا دُعِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُۥ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِۦ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ فَٱلْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْعَلِىِّ ٱلْكَبِيرِ
[They will be told], "That is because, when Allāh was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allāh, the Most High, the Grand."
ٱدْخُلُوٓا۟ أَبْوَٰبَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ
Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant."
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ ۖ وَلَهُمُ ٱللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ
The Day their excuse will not benefit the wrongdoers, and they will have the curse, and they will have the worst home [i.e., Hell].
وَقِهِمُ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ وَمَن تَقِ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُۥ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
And protect them from the evil consequences [of their deeds]. And he whom You protect from evil consequences that Day - You will have given him mercy. And that is the great attainment."