ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَا ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةً رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ ۚ فَأَتْبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُم بَعْضًا وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ ۚ فَبُعْدًا لِّقَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ 44
Translations
Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe.
Transliteration
Thumma arsalnā rusulunā tatrā kullā mā jāa ummatan rasūluhā kadhdhābūh fa-attaba'nā ba'dahum ba'dan wa-ja'alnāhum ahādīth fa-bu'dan li-qawmin lā yu'minūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah sent messengers in succession (one after another) throughout history, and whenever a messenger came to a community, they rejected him. Consequently, Allah allowed the rejecting nations to perish and become forgotten tales and ruins for subsequent generations. Ibn Kathir explains that 'tatrā' (in succession) emphasizes the continuous chain of prophethood, while the rejection of messengers led to their destruction, serving as warnings for those who possess understanding.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Mu'minun's broader narrative of past prophets and their peoples' responses. The surah, revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islamic preaching, addresses the Quraysh's rejection of Muhammad (peace be upon him) by drawing parallels to previous communities who similarly rejected their messengers. This contextualizes the Meccan polytheists' denial within a pattern of human rejection of divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of following messengers: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth' (Sahih Bukhari 3891). Also relevant: 'Each prophet was given miracles because of which people believed, but what I have been given is the Divine Inspiration which Allah has revealed to me' (Sahih Bukhari 3634), emphasizing the universal mission of prophets.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that rejection of truth and those who convey it carries severe consequences, both in this life and the next. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder to accept divine guidance when it comes and to heed the warnings embedded in historical narratives, lest we repeat the mistakes of those who came before us.
Related Ayahs
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ غُثَآءً ۚ فَبُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
So the shriek seized them in truth, and We made them as [plant] stubble. Then away with the wrongdoing people.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرْجِعُونِ
[For such is the state of the disbelievers] until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ
Indeed, they who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord
فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ ۙ فَٱسْلُكْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُخَـٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
So We inspired to him, "Construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows, put into it [i.e., the ship] from each [creature] two mates and your family, except him for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.