ذَٰلِكَ أَن لَّمْ يَكُن رَّبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَـٰفِلُونَ 131
Translations
That is because your Lord would not destroy the cities for wrongdoing while their people were unaware.
Transliteration
Dhālika an lam yakun rabbuka muhlika al-qurā bi-ẓulmin wa-ahluhā ghāfilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explains that Allah does not destroy cities unjustly while their inhabitants remain unaware of His warnings. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as affirming Allah's justice and mercy—He does not punish people without first sending them messengers and clear signs. The ayah establishes the principle that destruction comes only after clear warning and rejection of truth, protecting Allah's attribute of justice ('adl).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-An'am within a broader discussion of Allah's justice in punishment and the necessity of clear warning before divine retribution. It responds to questions about why Allah permits injustice on earth and establishes that civilizations are destroyed only after deliberate rejection of guidance, not out of arbitrary punishment or while people lack awareness of truth.
Related Hadiths
Sunan Ibn Majah and other collections record that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah does not punish the people of a house until they have been sent a messenger.' This principle directly supports the meaning of this ayah. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the 'Aad people illustrates how nations were destroyed after receiving clear warnings.
Themes
Key Lesson
Allah's punishment is never arbitrary or unjust; it comes only after clear warnings and deliberate rejection of truth. This teaches believers that they are responsible for seeking guidance and that rejecting clear signs has serious consequences, while it also provides assurance of Allah's perfect justice in all His dealings with humanity.