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
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِۦ مُشْرِكِينَ
And when they saw Our punishment, they said, "We believe in Allāh alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him."
ٱلنَّارُ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا ۖ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ ٱلْعَذَابِ
The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], "Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment."
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى عُذْتُ بِرَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم مِّن كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِيَوْمِ ٱلْحِسَابِ
But Moses said, "Indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Account."
رَفِيعُ ٱلدَّرَجَـٰتِ ذُو ٱلْعَرْشِ يُلْقِى ٱلرُّوحَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ لِيُنذِرَ يَوْمَ ٱلتَّلَاقِ
[He is] the Exalted above [all] degrees, Owner of the Throne; He places the inspiration of His command [i.e., revelation] upon whom He wills of His servants to warn of the Day of Meeting.