۞ 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.
Related Ayahs
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure [their] bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allāh had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allāh - never will He waste their deeds.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَءَامَنُوا۟ بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۙ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ
And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muḥammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’ān, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَـٰرَهُمْ
Then how [will it be] when the angels take them in death, striking their faces and their backs?