فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَهْلَكْنَـٰهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 139
Translations
And they denied him, so We destroyed them. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.
Transliteration
Fa-kadhdhaboohu fa-ahlaknaahum, inna fee dhaalika la-ayah, wa maa kaana aktharuhum mu'mineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the people of 'Ad who rejected the Prophet Hud and were subsequently destroyed by Allah through a violent windstorm, as mentioned earlier in the surah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that their destruction was a clear sign (ayah) of Allah's power and the consequences of rejecting His messengers. The final clause indicates that despite witnessing such clear signs, most people remain disbelievers—a theme underscoring human heedlessness and the hardness of hearts that reject divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the Meccan surah Ash-Shu'ara, which recounts stories of various prophets and their peoples' rejection and subsequent punishment. The broader context discusses the Prophet Hud's message to the people of 'Ad (verses 123-140), and this particular ayah concludes their account by emphasizing the finality of their destruction and the universality of disbelief among most people despite clear signs.
Related Hadiths
The theme of destruction coming to those who reject messengers is reinforced in various hadiths about the consequences of rejecting divine guidance. For example, in Sahih Muslim, there are traditions about how nations that rejected their prophets faced destruction, connecting to the broader Quranic narrative established here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that clear divine signs and the consequences of rejecting them are undeniable realities; believers should reflect on historical examples of destroyed nations and recognize that turning away from guidance leads to ruin, while clinging to faith and obedience is the path to salvation.