۞ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ دَمَّرَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَمْثَـٰلُهَا 10
Translations
Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them? Allāh destroyed [everything] over them, and for the disbelievers is something comparable.
Transliteration
Aflam yasīrū fī al-ardi fayanzurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu alladhīna min qablihim; damarra Allāhu ʿalayhim wa-lil-kāfirīna amthāluhā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah exhorts the disbelievers to travel through the land and observe the ruins and fate of previous nations who rejected their prophets, which Allah destroyed utterly. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah serves as a powerful reminder that the punishment of past disbelieving nations is a warning sign (ayah) of what awaits those who persist in rejecting Allah's message. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the physical evidence of destroyed civilizations should provoke reflection and rational consideration of one's stance toward divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Muhammad, revealed in Medina during a period when the Muslim community faced opposition from disbelieving Quraysh and other hostile groups. The surah's broader context addresses the consequences of rejecting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and divine revelation, with this particular ayah appealing to empirical observation and historical evidence as proof of Allah's justice and power in punishing the arrogant and heedless.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing the importance of understanding and reflecting upon Quranic messages. Additionally, the hadith about traveling to observe creation: 'Travelling is a piece of torture; it prevents one from sleeping, eating and drinking well. So when one has finished one's job, one should hurry back to one's family' (Sahih Bukhari 1804) contextualizes the physical journey mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should actively seek knowledge and evidence of Allah's power through observation of history and the natural world, using these signs to strengthen faith and warn others of the inevitable consequences of persistent disbelief. This ayah teaches that ignoring the lessons of history and refusing to reflect upon the fate of past civilizations is a form of willful blindness that invites similar punishment.