وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ 117
Translations
And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.
Transliteration
Wa maa kaana rabbuka liyuhlika al-qura bi-zulmin wa ahluhaa muslihun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah does not destroy cities and their inhabitants merely because of injustice while they are still conducting themselves with righteousness and reform. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah's punishment is not arbitrary but requires that people persist in wrongdoing without repentance; conversely, the presence of righteous people (muslihun) who work for reform may spare a community from destruction. This principle reflects Allah's mercy and justice—He does not punish the righteous along with the wicked, and He grants respite to those who seek reformation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Hud, which extensively discusses the stories of prophets and how nations responded to divine guidance. It falls within the broader Meccan context emphasizing Allah's justice in dealing with communities, their messengers, and the consequences of rejection or acceptance of faith. The ayah serves to console the Muslim community by assuring them that divine punishment is measured and just.
Related Hadiths
The hadith 'Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart' (Sahih Muslim 49) relates to the concept of active reformation (islah) that protects communities. Additionally, the hadith in Surah Al-Anfal 8:33 regarding the presence of the Prophet preventing punishment reflects this principle.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should actively work toward reform and righteousness (islah) in their communities, knowing that such efforts are barriers against divine punishment and that Allah does not destroy nations unjustly while they contain those striving for good. This teaches personal and communal responsibility—individuals must not be passive witnesses to wrongdoing but must actively contribute to their society's moral and spiritual health.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ سَعَوْ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا مُعَـٰجِزِينَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مِّن رِّجْزٍ أَلِيمٌ
But those who strive against Our verses [seeking] to cause failure - for them will be a painful punishment of foul nature.
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـٰلِمُونَ
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother [i.e., principal city] a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.
إِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلْكُفْرَ ۖ وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا۟ يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
If you disbelieve - indeed, Allāh is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves [i.e., likes] it for you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
كَذَٰلِكَ سَلَكْنَـٰهُ فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Thus have We inserted it [i.e., disbelief] into the hearts of the criminals.