وَلَـٰكِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَا قُرُونًا فَتَطَاوَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْعُمُرُ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ ثَاوِيًا فِىٓ أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ تَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا وَلَـٰكِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ 45
Translations
But We produced [many] generations [after Moses], and prolonged was their duration. And you were not a resident among the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our verses, but We were senders [of this message].
Transliteration
Wa-lākinná ansha'ná qurūnan fataṭāwala 'alayhimu al-'umur. Wa-mā kunta thāwian fī ahlí madyana tattlū 'alayhim āyātinā wa-lākinná kunnā mursilīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the long gap between Prophet Musa and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them both), explaining that Allah established generations after Musa whose lifespans extended over many centuries, during which the Prophet Muhammad was not physically present among the people of Madyan to recite Allah's signs to them. However, Allah was sending messengers to different peoples throughout this period. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah refutes the objection that there was no messenger sent to the Arabs for such a long time, explaining that Allah's practice is to send messengers to different nations according to His wisdom and plan.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Surah Al-Qasas, which details the story of Musa and includes dialogues addressing the Quraysh's disbelief. The context addresses why the Arabs did not receive a messenger for centuries before Muhammad, and this ayah assures that Allah's practice of sending messengers continued to other peoples even when the Arabs were without a messenger. It responds to implicit doubts about the hiatus in prophethood to Arabia.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of messengers being sent to different nations: 'There is no people to whom a messenger has not been sent' (referenced in classical tafsir literature). Also relevant: The hadith in Sahih Muslim about the sealing of prophethood with Muhammad, which contextualizes why this period of generations existed.
Themes
Key Lesson
Allah's plan encompasses all generations and peoples, and delays in receiving guidance are part of Divine wisdom rather than abandonment; believers should trust in Allah's timing and recognize that He has never left humanity without guidance, whether through messengers or clear signs.