كَدَأْبِ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ ۙ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ 52
Translations
[Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them. They disbelieved in the signs of Allāh, so Allāh seized them for their sins. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and severe in penalty.
Transliteration
Kada'bi āli Fir'awn wa alladhīna min qablihim kafarū bi āyāti Allāh fa akhdhahum Allāhu bidhnūbihim inna Allāha Qawiyyun Shadīdu al-'Iqāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah draws a parallel between the Quraysh's rejection of Allah's signs and the disbelief of Pharaoh and those before them, warning that just as Allah seized them with punishment for their sins, so too will the disbelievers face divine retribution. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse emphasizes that Allah's pattern of punishing those who reject His signs is consistent throughout history, and that divine punishment is inevitable for those who persist in disbelief. The phrase 'da'b' (custom/pattern) underscores the unchanging nature of Allah's justice and the consequences of rejection.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period as part of Surah Al-Anfal, which addresses the Battle of Badr and its lessons. The verse comes after the battle when the Muslims questioned the distribution of spoils, and it serves as a reminder to the believers that the disbelievers who fought against them faced the same fate as previous nations who rejected Allah's prophets. The context reinforces that Allah's victory for the believers is part of His eternal pattern of supporting His messengers.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (2798) narrates from Abu Huraira that the Prophet ﷺ said, 'The Sunnah (pattern) of Allah with those before you is a lesson for you.' This hadith directly supports the concept of Allah's consistent pattern throughout history. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains traditions about Allah's swift punishment for those who reject His signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that rejecting Allah's signs carries inevitable consequences, serving as both a reassurance that justice will ultimately prevail and a warning to remain steadfast in faith. It reminds us that history demonstrates the reality of divine accountability, and that Allah's power and justice are absolute and consistent across all times and peoples.