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
قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكَ يَـٰسَـٰمِرِىُّ
[Moses] said, "And what is your case, O Sāmirī?"
لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُۥ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا أَوْ لَأَا۟ذْبَحَنَّهُۥٓ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّى بِسُلْطَـٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ
I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization."
إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَـٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Indeed, those [worshippers] - destroyed is that in which they are [engaged], and worthless is whatever they were doing."
ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتُخْرِجُونَ فَرِيقًا مِّنكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ تَظَـٰهَرُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَإِن يَأْتُوكُمْ أُسَـٰرَىٰ تُفَـٰدُوهُمْ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِخْرَاجُهُمْ ۚ أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْىٌ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Then, you are those [same ones who are] killing one another and evicting a party of your people from their homes, cooperating against them in sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their eviction was forbidden to you. So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.