وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَـٰثًا وَرِءْيًا 74
Translations
And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?
Transliteration
Wa-kam ahlaknā qablahum min qarni hum ahsan athāthā wa-ri'yā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah reminds the disbelievers of Makkah that Allah destroyed many nations before them who possessed greater wealth, material abundance (athāth), and better appearance or social standing (ri'yā) than they did. The ayah emphasizes that material prosperity and worldly grandeur provide no protection against Divine punishment when people reject the message of their prophets. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this serves as a powerful warning that superiority in worldly affairs does not guarantee salvation or prevent destruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah of Maryam, which was revealed during the early period of Prophet Muhammad's mission when the Quraysh were arrogantly rejecting the message. The surah contextually addresses the disbelievers' pride and arrogance, reminding them of past nations' destruction as a cautionary tale. This particular ayah follows discussions of previous prophets and serves to reinforce the inevitability of Divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ warned: 'The best of you are those of the best character' (Ahsan ikhlaq), countering the Quranic emphasis that external wealth and appearance matter little. Additionally, the hadith 'How many a generation We have destroyed before them' (related to similar ayahs) appears in various collections addressing the destruction of previous nations.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that material wealth, attractive appearance, and social status are ephemeral and offer no protection against Divine judgment when accompanied by rejection of truth. Believers should not be impressed by the worldly success of disbelievers, as history demonstrates that Allah's punishment ultimately befalls those who persist in rejecting guidance regardless of their temporal prosperity.
Related Ayahs
وَتِلْكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا۟ وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا
And those cities - We destroyed them when they wronged, and We made for their destruction an appointed time.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ لِيَصُدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of Allāh. So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they will be overcome. And those who have disbelieved - unto Hell they will be gathered.
مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌ
Racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them, and their hearts are void.
قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا ۚ قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا ۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ
[Abraham] said, "Indeed, within it is Lot." They said, "We are more knowing of who is within it. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife. She is to be of those who remain behind."