وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا ٱلْأُولَىٰ 50
Translations
And that He destroyed the first [people of] ʿAad.
Transliteration
Wa-annahu ahlaka AAadan al-oolā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's destruction of the first 'Ad people due to their rejection of the Prophet Hud and their arrogance. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this destruction came as divine punishment after they stubbornly refused guidance despite clear signs and warnings. The term "al-ūlā" (the first) distinguishes them from a later group also called 'Ad, establishing the historical distinction between generations.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Najm is Meccan and addresses the Quraysh during the early Meccan period, reminding them of past nations that were destroyed for disbelief. This ayah appears within a section (verses 50-62) that catalogs Allah's destructive power over previous civilizations, serving as a warning to the contemporary disbelievers in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned 'Ad in multiple contexts. See Surah Al-A'raf 7:65-72 which contains the detailed account of Hud's message to 'Ad. Also, Sahih Muslim contains references to the terrible windstorm that destroyed them as a sign of Allah's power.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no nation, however advanced or powerful, is immune to Allah's punishment when they persistently reject divine guidance and warnings. Modern believers should reflect on the importance of heeding divine messages and maintaining humility before their Creator.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْءَانًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ ٱلْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۗ بَل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَا۟يْـَٔسِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن لَّوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَى ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ تُصِيبُهُم بِمَا صَنَعُوا۟ قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِّن دَارِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ وَعْدُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ
And if there was any Qur’ān [i.e., recitation] by which the mountains would be removed or the earth would be broken apart or the dead would be made to speak, [it would be this Qur’ān], but to Allāh belongs the affair entirely. Then have those who believed not accepted that had Allāh willed, He would have guided the people, all of them? And those who disbelieve do not cease to be struck, for what they have done, by calamity - or it will descend near their home - until there comes the promise of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh does not fail in [His] promise.
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوكُم بِمَا تَقُولُونَ فَمَا تَسْتَطِيعُونَ صَرْفًا وَلَا نَصْرًا ۚ وَمَن يَظْلِم مِّنكُمْ نُذِقْهُ عَذَابًا كَبِيرًا
So they will deny you, [disbelievers], in what you say, and you cannot avert [punishment] or [find] help. And whoever commits injustice among you - We will make him taste a great punishment.
لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ
Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm
عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ
Over them will be fire closed in.