كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّمَدْيَنَ كَمَا بَعِدَتْ ثَمُودُ 95
Translations
As if they had never prospered therein. Then, away with Madyan as Thamūd was taken away.
Transliteration
Ka-an lam yaghnaw fiha, ala bu'dan li-Madyana kama ba'idat Thamud
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the people of Madyan were completely destroyed and obliterated from their land, as if they had never enjoyed prosperity there at all. The phrase 'Ala bu'dan li-Madyana' (destruction upon Madyan) is a curse invoking ruin upon them, similar to how the people of Thamud were destroyed before them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this refers to the final destruction of Madyan by Prophet Shu'ayb, emphasizing the completeness of Allah's punishment upon those who reject His messengers and persist in corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Hud's accounts of various destroyed nations. It specifically follows the narrative of Prophet Shu'ayb and the people of Madyan, who rejected him despite his warnings against fraud and injustice in commerce. The ayah emphasizes the finality and totality of their destruction as a consequence of their disbelief.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly references this ayah, the destruction of Madyan is mentioned in the broader context of destroyed peoples. See Surah Al-'Ankabut 29:36-37 for complementary Quranic references to Madyan's fate.
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as past nations were entirely erased for their disobedience and injustice, those who reject divine guidance and persist in corruption face the inevitability of Allah's punishment. This serves as a profound warning that no amount of worldly prosperity can protect a society from divine reckoning if it abandons justice and truth.
Related Ayahs
فَلَا تَكُ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّمَّا يَعْبُدُ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ مَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُهُم مِّن قَبْلُ ۚ وَإِنَّا لَمُوَفُّوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ غَيْرَ مَنقُوصٍ
So do not be in doubt, [O Muḥammad], as to what these [polytheists] are worshipping. They worship not except as their fathers worshipped before. And indeed, We will give them their share undiminished.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِى وَتَرْحَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
[Noah] said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers."
قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
They said, "Are you amazed at the decree of Allāh? May the mercy of Allāh and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable."