وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَآ أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ 51
Translations
And We have already destroyed your kinds, so is there any who will remember?
Transliteration
Wa-laqad ahlakna ashyaʿakum fa-hal min muddakir
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah reminds the disbelievers of Makkah that He has already destroyed the nations and peoples who came before them (the generations of ʿAd, Thamud, and Pharaoh), yet they persisted in disbelief. The ayah concludes with a rhetorical question challenging them to take heed and remember the consequences of rejection. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this is a warning based on historical precedent—if previous nations were annihilated for their obstinacy, why should the Quraysh think themselves exempt?
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Qamar, which repeatedly mentions the destruction of past nations (ʿAd, Thamud, Lot's people, and Pharaoh). The surah was revealed in Mecca to warn the contemporary polytheists of similar destruction if they continued rejecting the message. The repetition of "fahl min muddakir" (is there any who will remember/take heed?) throughout the surah emphasizes Allah's call to reflection and repentance.
Related Hadiths
The general theme relates to Surah Al-Qamar's warning function. A thematically related hadith is found in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned: 'Take admonition from the example of past nations, for indeed in their stories is a lesson for those of understanding.' This reflects the surah's message of learning from destroyed nations.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that ignoring warnings carries severe consequences, as demonstrated throughout human history, and encourages us to heed the Quran's messages rather than follow the path of those who were destroyed. For modern readers, it invites introspection about whether we are truly taking heed (muddakir) from the Quran's teachings or merely hearing them without reflection.