إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 174
Translations
Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers.
Transliteration
Inna fee dhalika la-ayah wa ma kana akthharuhum mu'mineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the account of the people of the Wood (Ashab al-Aykah) and affirms that in their destruction lies a clear sign (ayah) for humanity of Allah's power and justice. Despite witnessing such a decisive punishment, most of the people still did not believe, emphasizing the hardness of hearts and rejection of divine guidance even when confronted with undeniable proofs—a theme Ibn Kathir emphasizes as demonstrating that signs alone do not guarantee faith without sincere hearts.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the surah's narrative section (ayat 160-175) recounting the stories of previous nations who rejected their prophets. The broader context of Surah Ash-Shu'ara focuses on the rejection faced by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and provides historical parallels of how disbelieving communities were destroyed, serving as warnings to the Meccan polytheists.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Quran and its interpreter (the Sunnah) are two things that will not separate from each other until they meet me at the Pool.' (Sunan Ibn Majah) - This relates to the ayah's role as a sign requiring proper understanding. Also relevant: 'How many a sign in the heavens and earth do they pass by, turning away from them' (Quran 12:105), which Al-Tirmidhi discusses regarding heedlessness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that mere exposure to divine signs and evidence is insufficient without an open and sincere heart willing to reflect and submit; believers should guard their hearts against arrogance and heedlessness, recognizing that the greatest tragedy is possessing knowledge of truth yet turning away from it.