قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ 11
Translations
Say, "Travel through the land; then observe how was the end of the deniers."
Transliteration
Qul sīrū fī al-arḍ thumma anẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu al-mukadhdhibīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to invite people to travel through the earth and observe the ruins and remains of past nations who rejected the messengers, so they may witness the consequences of denial and disbelief. Ibn Kathir explains that this ayah serves as a powerful empirical argument for the truth of the message—the archaeological and historical evidence of destroyed civilizations should persuade the deniers. Al-Tabari emphasizes that this invitation to observe is both a call to reflection (tadabbur) and a warning about the inevitable punishment that befalls those who reject divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-An'am and is part of a broader rhetorical strategy addressing the Quraysh's denial and stubbornness. The surah repeatedly presents rational arguments and signs (ayat) to convince the disbelievers. This particular verse invites them to use reason and observation as means to understand Allah's law regarding the fate of rejectors.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best form of jihad is a word of truth spoken in front of a tyrannical ruler' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the concept of learning from history is reflected in: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari), as understanding past nations' fates is part of Quranic comprehension.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah encourages believers to be thoughtful observers of history and current events, recognizing that Allah's laws are consistent and observable—those who reject truth face inevitable consequences. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of learning from both historical and contemporary examples rather than stubbornly persisting in error.